Don't Give Up on God

 Do Not Give Up Doing Good

 Book of Galatians Chapter 6 Verse 1 through 10

 We should understand that there is a right way and a wrong way to help our brothers and sisters in Christ or in fact anyone else.

 We must stress this point at all times!

 We are all still sinners at least as long as we are in these bodies of flesh as Paul has pointed out.

 We all suffer the same passions and at times someone of us is always overtaken by sin.

 How we approach a fallen brother or sister is of great importance!

 It is sometimes a very delicate matter!

 That one who has fallen may be sensitive or even embarrassed and easily shamed for giving into their flesh.

 It is these things that may not allow this brother or sister to return to the Church.

 He or she may even feel like he or she is unwelcome, and we must never allow this to be our intensions.

 Unless this person is approved in the right spirit they may never return to the Church.

 We must understand that a ministry of restoration, is a ministry of God and should be a ministry of the Church!

 This is a ministry that God has called us all to take part in, for any of us could fall at any moment.

 *****Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 

 A wise man said: "A word of Love is more potent than any argument".

 That word "brethren" reminds us that Paul is speaking to saved people.

 If we see one of our brothers or sisters in violation of the Law of God, he or she is not immediately our enemy!

 They are still our brother or sister in Christ.

 We all know how hard it is to fight with this flesh and win every battle.

 None of us will win every battle with our flesh!

 There may have been some in the Churches of Galatia that had fallen from the "Grace" of God, none of us live perfect lives.

 That word "overtaken" gives us the idea that someone had fallen back into sin.

 It was not deliberate, it was not planned, it was a mistake they had made.

 Paul was not speaking of faults in doctrine, but a mistake through weakness of the flesh.

 Jesus said to His disciples: Mat_26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

 Sin is like an addiction, and it is hard to break free from any addiction!

 We may not know the problems of our brothers and sisters, unless we show them love where they may trust us enough to speak with us.

 Why did the Lord Jesus come to this earth?

 Jesus came to restore God's children back to a relationship with our Creator that had been lost by Adam.

 Why would we ever refuse to attempt to restore one of our brothers and sisters in Christ, yet many in the Church would say good riddance.

 This is not what the Lord Jesus Christ taught when He walked upon this earth.

 We all brag about the Scriptures of the Apostle Paul has taught us and he taught a restoration ministry.

 The job of restoration is often neglected in the Church.

 We tend to pretend that the sin never happened or we tend to react too harshly towards that person.

 Those who are Spiritual are those who show the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives and in the Church.

 Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 

 It is those who show that Spirit of Gentleness that the Lord Jesus showed to all He met who have the best chance of reaching that backslider.

 Then Paul says we need to understand there is a possibility that we could be drawn into that same trap of backsliding, and we need to be prepared.

 One such thing would be that we could be so full of pride that we can manage every situation that we ourselves fall, but it includes the same temptation our brother or sister has fallen into.

 The Bible says: 2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 

 *****Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 

 Remember the law of Jesus Christ is love!

 Joh 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 

Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 

 It is love that caused our Lord Jesus to hang on that cross and die for each of us!

 Jesus Christ bore the sins of everyone who has ever lived!

 Now we cannot bear the sins of anyone, but we can bear the burdens of our brothers and sisters!

 We can first forgive each other! We must understand that sin that made this person fall from Grace was a sin that Christ died for.

 Again, what did the Lord Jesus teach us?

 1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 *****Gal 6:3  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 

 We should understand to be Christian is to be like Jesus Christ. There is no other reason to be called a Christian or to say you are a Christian except you are trying your best to be like Jesus Christ.

 It is Jesus Christ Himself who told us to bear one another's burdens!

 It is Jesus Christ Himself who told us to be forgiving!

 It is Jesus Christ Himself who told us to love one another!

 To neglect to do these things is to set ourselves above Christ our Savior.

 God came down to earth in the flesh to humble Himself and die for our sins, so how can we say we will not humble ourselves to help a brother or sister in need.

 No Christian is better than any other Christian.

 None of us can stand before God unless we are wearing the "Righteousness of Jesus Christ"!

 There is no place in the Church for feeling superior or spiritually better than others.

 Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 

 We need to do a self-examination to see for ourselves if we possess the right qualities to help a brother or sister in their time of need or we could make things worse.

 *****Gal 6:4  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 

 We need to do a self-examination of our own selves comparing ourselves to Jesus Christ and not to some other member of the Church.

 We need to understand our own conduct and our own understanding.

 We are to examine and judge our own lives, not the life of that fallen brother or sister.

 Again, Jesus says: Mat 7:3  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 

Mat 7:4  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 

Mat 7:5  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

 If we are to deal with a backslider, we need to make sure we are not hypocrites!

 Criticizing and judging others is a sin!

 We cannot help anyone unless we have a pure conscience ourselves.

 It is a great joy knowing that we are pleasing God by the way we walk in this life.

 2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 

 *****Gal 6:5  For every man shall bear his own burden.

 None of us can escape from our own moral responsibility!

 We are personally responsible to the Lord for our own behavior and we shall be judged for what we have done.

 We know when we meet the Lord in the air it is a judgment for rewards, and it will be to our own shame if we do not receive any rewards for the things we have done in this life.

 If we do not periodically examine ourselves, we can never overcome any faults that we have!

 If we spend our time observing the failures of others and not the burdens of our own failures, we will never be able to help anyone in their time of need.

 Rom 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 

 We must understand that every child of God is a student who sits at the feet of the Master learning how to be like Him.

 *****Gal 6:6  Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 

 We can go up and down the hallways of our education building and we will find good teachers, but I do not claim to be one of them.

 I know if I listen to the Holy Spirit, I can try to get His message across in this classroom and this is what I try to do.

 Between myself and my class we should aways be able to discuss the things that I teach.

 Here in this Scripture, we see the Holy Spirit speaking directly to the learner who is also a believer.

 This passage speaks more to the Pastor than it does to the classroom teacher.

 These same things apply to both.

 If you want to be good to the teacher:

 1) Be present when the teacher teaches.

2) Be attentive and learn what the teacher teaches.

3) Share in discussion of what the teacher teaches.

4) Pass on what the teacher teaches.

5) Participate in the ministry of that teacher.

6) Support the teacher.

7) Encourage others to learn.

 Again, this passage is referring to the Pastor of the Church who must also be a good teacher.

 Thank goodness for our own Pastor here at Gethsemane.

 Teaching is a vital part of the New Testament Church.

 Members of the early Church devoted themselves to the teaching of the Aposltes.

 Act 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

 The Apostles taught the doctrine of our resurrected Christ.

 Act 4:2  Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 

 They taught as they had opportunity.

 Act 5:21  And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 

 Act 5:25  Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 

 Notice being locked up in prison did not stop the Apostles.

 At that time the city of Jerusalem was saturated with the teaching of Jesus Christ and His atonement.

 Act 5:27  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 

Act 5:28  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 

Act 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 

Act 5:30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 

Act 5:31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 

Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

 The heart of the message of the Apostles was that our Lord Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

 Act 17:2  And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 

Act 17:3  Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 

 It is teaching the truth of Jesus Christ that will bring the Church to maturity.

 Act 11:26  And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 

 The goal of the Gospel is to make us all look more like Jesus Christ.

 Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 

 This teaching is to be taught until the Lord returns.

 2Ti 2:2  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 

 We are not to forget the Scripture but continuously teach the Gospel.

 Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 

 This the purpose of our classrooms to teach Jesus!

 God knows the truth of every Pastor and every teacher.

 In fact, God knows the truth of us all!

 *****Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 

Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 

 In the secular world few people are as important as the teacher.

 Its the same for the Church.

 We should understand that every Pastor should also be a good teacher but few teachers will ever be Pastors.

 Teachers in the Church are also very important, especially those who teach the children.

 The truth of the Gospel is the most important message in this world!

 The Pastor has responsibilities because he is called of God.

The Teacher has responsibilities because he or she is to follow the pastor's lead in teaching the truth of the Scriptures.

The student also has responsibilities to the teacher and to the Church.

 In the Bible believing church the true Pastor, is one who accepts the truth of the Gospel and the Apostle's Doctrine which is the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 The teachers in that church are to follow his lead and teach the truth of the Scriptures.

 The student then honors the teacher and the Pastor when they share the ministry of the teacher.

 In the churches of Galatia many of the members were being deceived about facing the judgment of God.

 They were being led astray by teachers with a false message.

 They were failing to share in the ministry of the Apostle Paul and shared the false message of Judaism.

 Judaism is a religion; Christianity is based upon a personal relationship with Jesus Christ they cannot be intermingled.

 These false teachers were turning their nose up at God who had told them of this New Covenant, but they were rejecting it.

 These teachers were rejecting the teaching of the Apostle Paul, so they were not teachers at all.

 They were church terrorists plotting the downfall of the Church of Jesus Christ.

 When we attack the true Pastor, we are mocking God who called that Pastor into service.

 The lesson these men learned at their death is that God is not mocked for whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.

 God is very clear those that reject the message of God will be rejected by God.

 When our Pastor preaches the truth of the Scriptures, and that message is rejected by those who hear it then they will stand before God and answer for that rejection.

 If we do not listen to the warnings of the lust of the flesh, then we will reap the lusts of the flesh.

 Those who reject the message of the true Pastor will worship as they desire.

 They will seek some form of the truth somewhere else.

 They will refuse to pray.

 They will live as they please.

 They will strive against the true Church.

 They will reject all the Law of God.

 They will seek the things of this world.

 When we allow our flesh to lead us rather than the Holy Spirit we will see the wrath of God.

 The flesh ages, dies, and then it decays.

 If we sow to the flesh then we will age, then die, then face the judgment of God which he spells out so vividly in the Scriptures.

 It does not matter what the world says, it only matters what God says!

 True teachers teach the Word of God just it is written, and these lessons must be learned by us all.

 God will not be mocked and there is no escape from His truths!

 Rom 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

 Job 4:8  Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. 

 If we sow to the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer, we shall reap life everlasting!

If we listen to God's saving message, the Gospel, the Holy Spirit will implant the Divine nature of God within the heart of each believer.

 This is how we know and accept the fruit of the Spirit.

 This is how we will live forever with God in the New Heaven and the New Earth.

 Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. 

We know it has been close to two thousand years since the beginning of the Church Age, and we must be patient until the Church Age reaches its fulfillment.

Jas 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 

Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 

It may seem like an endless task sowing faith and hope, but we must not lose heart!

God is going to reward all those who have such patience!

There is just too much truth in the Scriptures for it all to end in nothingness.

The timing of all these things in is God's hands but the season of sowing is in our hands.

*****Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

God has given us this opportunity to earn rewards.

We should not be waiting for opportunities to develop but making them happen.

We should not be waiting on an opportunity to do good, and we should show kindness to all our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Someone in the Church always has a need!

We must stay alert and not be weary if we want to receive a full reward.

We are responsible for our own family first.

We are responsible to our Church family next.

We are responsible for the lost next.

Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 

Amen

The Truth Of Helping Others

The Blessings Of Helping Others

2 Corinthians 8

When we study the Books to the Corinthians we see a body of believers who had some serious problems in trying to become a working ministry of the Lord.

We have seen may spiritual problems and sadly spiritual problems will always lead to a financial shortfall.

The churches throughout Judea were suffering a great poverty and sincerely needed help to survive. In the Israel of that day if you rejected the teaching of the Pharisees you were not only not allowed to worship in the Temple but in most every case you would loose your job and any other source of income. Many of the Jews had scattered to foreign lands just to survive but those that could not, faced terrible poverty.

The only support that was available was from the "body of Christ".

Corinth was not only a most wicked city but it was also a rich city. These of this new church had a desire to help but those controversies within the church body had not allowed that help to develop.

Today we know that the needs of missions is a never ending call.

In many places of worship today we have forgotten that giving is a part of the "Grace" of God, just as the knowledge of Christ, the love of God, and the filling of the Holy Spirit!

Giving has been lowered to just being a burden. Many see giving as just filling the coffers of the church when it should be about spreading the Word of God and aid to the body of Christ in times of need.

The "Grace" of giving should also be included in our prayers because the truth is God loves the cheerful giver!

2Co_9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

You see God is specific, if giving has become only a burden to you then you can miss out on this love of God.

The Grace of God includes being a "cheerful giver"!

We will all stand before the Lord at one day and we should remember what He said:

Act 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 

We know that love is the greatest sign of Christian "Grace" and we need to understand that giving for the cause of Christ “is a part of that love”!

It was Paul that wrote that "Charity" was the greatest sign of a Christian and Paul did not use the word "Love". In our English language "Charity" is the only word that resembles the "Love of God".

God gave us life. God gave us all our necessities. God gave us His Son that we might live forever.

If we take away “giving” then all we have left is not really much love!

No one can really understand this until we have "given" ourselves to the Lord!

Let's Begin

*****2Co 8:1  Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 

2Co 8:2  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 

Remember Paul is writing to the Corinthians. Corinth in that day was a rich city by all standards. We can be sure there were some poor people here but like America, Corinth was a city great opportunities financially. You could get a job in Corinth if you really wanted a job!

Macedonia included all of Greece and was the doorway to Europe.

We know that Paul had already established the church in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea.

At one time Macedonia had been known for its natural resources but over time this area had been ravaged by the numerous wars and Rome had stripped this area of its wealth.

Because of these things most of the people of Macedonia were poor and had very little opportunity for that to change.

Most of the known world had realized these things and in the end the greed of Rome was Rome’s downfall.

It seems this lesson is never learned today.

Paul used these places of worship as an example to these Corinthians because they were extremely wealthy in the "Grace of God"!

Remember "Grace" is “the unmerited favor of God” and God’s grace is reflected many times in the good things that God gives so freely.

Ordinarily poverty is used as an excuse of not giving but this was not so of the people of Macedonia!

How did Paul describe these people?

1Th 2:14  For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: “for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews”: 

How did these people react to the 'Grace of God"?

*****2Co 8:3  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and “beyond their power they were willing of themselves”; 

2Co 8:4  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 

The truth is they were willing to give far beyond their power to give!

In verse 2 Paul used the phrase "deep poverty" which means just at is says "poverty down to the depths", utter poverty! These same people were giving more than all others!

What is the truth in most places of worship?

1) There are those who say they have nothing to give because they are too poor. Regardless of this fact God requires the minimum of a 10th of that income.

2) There are those who give a great deal thinking that should be enough but they do not give according to their means or they would hundreds in place of tens, or a thousand in place of a hundred.

3) There are also those rich and poor who believe the Pastor will only run people away from the church because he causes the plate to be passed so often.

All these groups of people lack the "Grace of Giving" because we all should give according to our means to give, in order for the ministries of God to succeed!

If we are to exercise the gift of faith, and the gift of love, then we need to exercise the gift of giving according to our means.

What is the truth of these Macedonians?

In verse 4 we can see that Paul even cautioned them "much intreaty" not to cause them own selves harm by their giving, "But They Insisted That Paul Receive Their Gift"!

So how is this wonderful gift obtained?

*****2Co 8:5  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. 

They had an abundance of joy because they had given themselves to the Lord and they were saved and they knew it for certain!

1) They gave themselves over to the Lord!

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

2) They then gave themselves over to God's representatives.

2Co 4:5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 

2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

3) They then obeyed the will of God to carry out His will. Above all others these Macedonians had volunteered to help those in Judea who were actually dieing of starvation.

What did Jesus teach?

Mar_3:35  For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

After all the gifts that were gathered were to aid the poor Jews that remained in Jerusalem, a people who were suffering even more greatly because they had given themselves over to the Lord!

We must understand that giving is also the means of getting!

What is God's principle of giving?

Pro 3:9  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 

Pro 3:10  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 

We give so that we can receive!

This is one of those principles that the world cannot understand, just like the certainty of the "Glorified Body".

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 

There are many good reasons to be charitable with all our possessions but the best reason is "that it shows the grace of God in our own lives"!

*****2Co 8:6  Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 

2Co 8:7  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. 

2Co 8:8  I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

So what is stewardship?

In the Bible times, a steward was one who managed the affairs of the household of another person.

This showed a great confidence to those who held such office!

It could be said that the Apostle Paul was the steward of God's church, "the body of Christ" and this is a function of all those who are called of God to minister the Word of God.

But the fact remains that every "born again" child of God is to be a good steward. After all we become

God's Temple if we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit and “we are responsible for the affairs of that household”.

1Pe 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 

1Pe 4:9  Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 

1Pe 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 

1) We are to give because it will remind us that we are dependent on God to meet all our needs.

2) We are to give because it will remind us that our Redeemer gave all of Himself in order that we can live forever.

3) We are to give in order to promote spiritual welfare.

The problem with us humans, is that we are born selfish and we wish to hold onto all our possessions, even those gifts that God has given to us so freely!

Some would ask then, when should we give and God gives us a good suggestion of a good time.

1Co 16:2  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 

We know the first day of the week in the Scriptures refer to Sunday!

Paul challenged these Corinthians to give and even excel beyond what these Macedonians had given.

They had actually began this at one time but those controversies they had been through had stopped most all support for the church and the church ministries.

1) “Faith” is our ability to trust in God and to live a victorious life.

2) “Utterance” is our ability to share the "Gospel" with others we meet.

3) “Knowledge” is our ability to understand the Word of God.

4) “Diligence” is our energy and zeal to be ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

5) “Love” is our ability to care for the minister of God that He has given us and to care for all brothers and sisters everywhere, along with the work of the Lord.

If we have done all these things then we are not complete unless we become “cheerful givers” also!

We should give cheerfully.

We should give frequently.

BUT, We should give intelligently.

The intent of bearing our own cross for Christ Jesus is self denial and we may also have to deny ourselves of some things, to be able to give in a Christlike manner!

God does not give us a command to give becauseif giving is forced or even coerced it looses all it's benefits because it will not please God!

Giving proves the state of our hearts in the eyes of God!

We already know that love is an action word “so love is proven more by action than by word of mouth”!

1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; “but in deed and in truth”. 

Again who is our example in all things?

*****2Co 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, “that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich”. 

The Lord Jesus Christ was rich and as the Son of God He possessed all the nature, all the being, and all the fullness of God, who just speaks and things just happen.

**Jesus Christ dwelt in the power and the majesty of the Godhead, the Holy Trinity!

Col 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 

**Jesus Christ possesses every good and perfect thing!

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

**Jesus Christ had all the worship and adoration of all heavenly things!

Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, “stood a Lamb” as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 

Rev 5:7  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 

But the Lord Jesus Christ gave all these things up just to come to this earth to be a substitute in death for all our sins!

Jesus became poor "for our sakes" that we through His poverty could be rich in all things in Heaven and Earth.

And these are things that we know to be true, so how can we not give a little something of our selves and our possessions that He has shared with us “for all good things truly belonged to Him”!

So what was Paul advice to these Corinthians and to all of the Church everywhere?

*****2Co 8:10  And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 

If we take that word "expedient" as meaning "profitable" as it does, we can then understand what Paul is saying:

1Ti 6:18  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 

1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 

Before the controversies had divided this church they had made a commitment to support missions. In fact they obligated themselves to help their brothers and sisters in Judea.

Paul had already taught about the "judgment seat of Christ" and the gain or the loss of rewards. Paul is saying, why would anyone want to change a gain into a loss!

It is certain God expects us to uphold our commitments because if not then a commitment becomes meaningless!

Certain of these Corinthians had made a commitment to help the Christians in Judea and they were persuaded that it was absolutely the right thing to do.

So what does God say?

Jas 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. 

Here is another case of a gain becoming a loss!

This commitment was made a year ago, so we can see that these disputes within the church and the lack of Church discipline had stopped the Church outreach which is also where a gain becomes a loss.

It was surely profitable or expedient that this church get back to the work of the Lord!

*****2Co 8:11  Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 

2Co 8:12  For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 

The greatest challenge in giving is not only to give but to give willingly and to give readily.

A church that has no outreach is not much of a church and this holds true to every individual. We must all give of ourselves in some way to the missions of the Church!

We see that Paul adds that phrase "out of that which you have". In other words according to your own means!

If we accept what God is saying then, if we have undertaken a mission project then we need to complete that project but also that this should be a continuous and ongoing thing for all churches.

There is always a need somewhere and this will remain until Lord returns!

The world is full of sin.

The world is full of disease.

The world is full of poverty.

The world is full of death and hunger and thirst.

We know that a small child cannot hear you when their stomach is empty and so is a grownup.

Many in our world die without Christ everyday just because no one cares enough to help them.

Mar 14:7  For ye have the poor with you always, "and whensoever ye will ye may do them good": but me ye have not always. 

Until the Lord returns there will always be a need for missions and the support of those missions!

Giving can happen when we have a willing mind!

But there must also be a readiness to give when an opportunity arises.

We should judge our own selves. God accepts everyone according to what they have and not according to what they have not.

We should remember the story of the little old lady in the Temple.

Luk 21:3  And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 

Luk 21:4  For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: “but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had”. 

The point being that God does not expect us to give all that we have of our finances as this sweet lady had done, but in the eyes of God, her small amount counted for a much greater reward that what the others had given even though they had given a far greater amount!

God says give what we can and even if it hurts a little, no matter the amount with this thought in mind, God will judge us on “what we give compared to what we could give”. God has a way of multiplying things!

What is the truth of giving?

*****2Co 8:13  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 

2Co 8:14  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 

2Co 8:15  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

After all what is a Christian? A Christian is someone who learns the principles of Jesus Christ and then applies those principles to their own lives.

Christian still means Christlike and not worldlike and much of the church has forgotten this main principle!

We should also remember Jesus was no wimp. Jesus stood His ground on the Word of God even before all obstacles.

In the Christian mind, Christ must be all in all, the measure of all things, and the standard that we are to use to set our goals in this life!

As Christians we are all in this thing together. We are one family! If one suffers we all suffer! We should help meet the needs of one another.

The truth is, God has given all of us a certain capacity for enjoyment. If God increases our riches beyond that point of enjoyment and we hoard those things and they cause sadness in any way, we cannot blame God, we should have given that extra it to those who who do not have and stayed at the place where we enjoyed the life that God had given to us already!

More does not make happy into happier!

We should remember “the manna” that fed the children of Israel for 40 years. They could only gather what they needed and as much as they needed. If they tried to gather more than they could eat it would

spoil. If someone was sick or injured then another could gather enough for them so that they all had all that they needed.

God's principles do not ever change and we are wrong to think so!

God still made this giving to be voluntary.

God left it in our power to keep or to give away!

God left it in our own power to give a little or to give much!

But God also gives us good advice in how to deal with giving.

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

We can be sure if God has provided something extra, then He will soon show us a place where that extra is needed to have an opportunity for a reward saved in Heaven but also joy in this life!

We should have this thought in mind, “that whatever is done for another Christian or to those in need, is the same as if it were done for Christ Himself”!

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Since we know that giving is truly important to the Lord and to the spread of the Gospel, then we should surely know that those who collect that ministry also have a great responsibility to make sure those offerings gets to where it is needed and it is used for what it was intended!

*****2Co 8:16  But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 

2Co 8:17  For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. 

2Co 8:18  And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 

2Co 8:19  And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: 

2Co 8:20  Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: 

Those that gather the collections of the church also have an important function and it should be taken very seriously!

The truth is, the "body of Christ" must always be aware of who handles the money!

These people must be trustworthy!

Titus was an evangelist who assisted the Apostles and became a church planter himself.

Titus cared for this church at Corinth as much as Paul did!

This church clearly understood this fact and placed great trust in Titus.

So those that take up the collections must also have a great love and care for the church!

The name of this other person is not as important as is his qualifications. "His praise is in the Gospel throughout all the churches".

He was a Christian. He was treated as a brother in every church. He had a strong testimony in the "Gospel of Jesus Christ".

It would only be a wild guess to assume that this was Luke because we cannot possibly know, and it is his qualifications that are most important!

This person had been hand picked to keep the collections secure until they were delivered to the place of their need.

You see the men who secure the collections of the church “should be chosen by the church”.

If Paul had handled these offerings himself, he would have left himself and his ministry open to being charged with confiscating or even stealing church money.

Every Pastor needs to consider these things in his own ministry!

In reality Paul sent 3 messengers to Corinth to gather this offering and we should observe another Godly principle.

Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 

Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, “then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established”. 

These Corinthians had made a commitment and if they did not follow through then there would be 3 witnesses and not just the word of the Apostle Paul.

Paul wanted all men to know that he was honest and that he would never take money out of the offerings for his own use.

Paul wanted no one to question his personal conduct because he had dedicated his life to the "Gospel" and to helping people and his reputation was everything to him for his work to have meaning and to produce fruit.

This should not only be the goal of every Pastor but also for every child of God!

*****2Co 8:21  Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 

Paul said above all things we give no one an occasion for suspicion, not only in the sight of all men but also in sight of the Lord.

God is not sitting in Heaven just waiting on us to make a mistake so he can punish us but He is certainly aware of all the things we do and at all times.

Psa 139:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 

Psa 139:2  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 

Psa 139:3  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 

Psa 139:4  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 

Psa 139:5  Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 

Psa 139:6  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 

If we are to be disciples of Jesus Christ then we must have a reputation that resembles Christs reputation and above all Christ Jesus never sinned and even those that hated Christ knew Him as a good man!

We as Christians must have a clear conscience and it must appear to the world that we have a clear conscience!

Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

The two men who Paul had sent with Titus had met all these qualifications and everywhere this was known.

*****2Co 8:22  And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. 

2Co 8:23  Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. 

2Co 8:24  Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

Paul had sent Titus who the Corinthian Church had come to trust, a Christian brother whom all the other churches had selected to trust, and this third Christian who had been tested frequently by the Apostle Paul himself.

Again if this this church was not ready to honor its commitment then there would qualified witnesses and these things could not be blamed on God's Apostle.

Paul had requested no particular amount and remember they already were giving in support of their own church.

Paul had said to be liberal. (of bounty and not covetousness)

Paul had said to be deliberate. (Christian charity is a calm and wise thing, with courage to refuse if necessary, not an impulse but with purpose of heart)

Paul had said to be cheerful. (The Lord loves a cheerful giver)

Giving is also a proof not only of the love of God in our lives but also the love of all our brothers and sisters in Christ!

Love is an action word that calls for proof sometimes if not all the time!

Questions?

Let's Pray!