Blessings to othersBlessings to others

2 Corinthians 9:1-82 Corinthians 9:1-8

(1) For as touching the ministering to the saints, it (1) For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:is superfluous for me to write to you:

(2) For I know the forwardness of your mind, for (2) For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.provoked very many.

(3) Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting (3) Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:said, ye may be ready:

(4) Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, (4) Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.boasting.

(5) Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the (5) Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as notice before, that the same might be ready, as [a matter of][a matter of] bounty, and not as bounty, and not as [of][of] covetousness.covetousness.

(6) But this (6) But this [I say][I say], He which soweth sparingly shall , He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

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

(8) And God (8) And God [is][is] able to make all grace abound able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all in all [things][things], may abound to every good work:, may abound to every good work:

Normally, this passage is only Normally, this passage is only used to speak of financial used to speak of financial

giving…giving… But it can also But it can also

speak of: speak of:

LoveLove

TimeTime

HelpHelp

TalentsTalents

JoyJoy

PeacePeace

GoodnessGoodness

FaithFaith

And more!And more!

God wants us to be cheerful when we allow ourselves to be

blessings to others…

I want to challenge you today I want to challenge you today to be more than givers…. to to be more than givers…. to be Extraordinary Givers…be Extraordinary Givers…

Look what happens when you Look what happens when you give… give…

When you are a blessing to When you are a blessing to others…others…

1) God showers us with Grace1) God showers us with Grace

(8) And God (8) And God [is][is] able able to make all to make all grace abound toward yougrace abound toward you; ; that ye, always having all sufficiency that ye, always having all sufficiency in all in all [things][things], may abound to every , may abound to every good work:good work:

God will allow you to have advantages God will allow you to have advantages that you have not earned…that you have not earned…

I call it being in a bubble…I call it being in a bubble… Everything bad bounces off of you… Everything bad bounces off of you… Your car 15 yr old car is still going… Your car 15 yr old car is still going… Your showered with blessings that go Your showered with blessings that go

beyond your abilities… beyond your abilities… You know you only have enough gas to go You know you only have enough gas to go

10 miles, but you end up going 50 miles… 10 miles, but you end up going 50 miles… You get promoted to a position…. You get promoted to a position…. SomethSomethinging comes into your life thcomes into your life thatat

blessesblesses you… you… When People lWhen People look at you they see ook at you they see

somethingsomething spspecial…ecial…

Let’s break this verse down…Let’s break this verse down… GraceGrace…. Unmerited favor…. Unmerited favor AboundsAbounds….The Greek word is actually ….The Greek word is actually

“Superabound”… to abound, overflow “Superabound”… to abound, overflow 1) to be abundantly furnished with, to 1) to be abundantly furnished with, to have in abundance, abound in (a thing), to have in abundance, abound in (a thing), to be in affluence 2) to be in affluence 2) to be pre-eminent, to excel 3) to be pre-eminent, to excel 3) to excel more than, exceedexcel more than, exceed

God’s love flows into your life it overflows God’s love flows into your life it overflows in every area….in every area….

Toward youToward you…The idea is he has you …The idea is he has you SPECIFICALLY in mind… SPECIFICALLY in mind…

This speaks purpose… HE purposely This speaks purpose… HE purposely directs his special favor toward directs his special favor toward

you….you….

Imagine…Imagine…

The creator of the universe is so focused The creator of the universe is so focused

on you that he on you that he purposelypurposely directs directs his overflowing, liberated, unbounded, his overflowing, liberated, unbounded,

cup running over, love cup running over, love toward toward youyou… He pours His love on you, over … He pours His love on you, over

you, in you, through you… you, in you, through you…

JUST BECAUSE HE CAN…JUST BECAUSE HE CAN…

Since God shows grace toward you.. You Since God shows grace toward you.. You should show it toward others…should show it toward others…

2) He supplies our EVERY need2) He supplies our EVERY need

(8) And God (8) And God [is][is] able to make all grace able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in always having all sufficiency in all all [things][things],, may abound to every may abound to every good work:good work:

SufficiencySufficiency….From Thayers Lexicon… ….From Thayers Lexicon… 1) a perfect condition of life in 1) a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is neededwhich no aid or support is needed

Notice he says we have it “always” Notice he says we have it “always” in “all things”…in “all things”…

8)…always having all sufficiency in 8)…always having all sufficiency in all all [things][things],…,…

Everything you need is at your Everything you need is at your disposal with God…disposal with God…

He supplies our EVERY need.He supplies our EVERY need. We are able to have it… we just don’t We are able to have it… we just don’t

claim it…claim it… But God supplies it…But God supplies it…

2 Corinthians 12:7-102 Corinthians 12:7-10

(7) And lest I should be exalted above measure (7) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.exalted above measure.

(8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it (8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.might depart from me.

(9) And he said unto me, (9) And he said unto me, My grace is My grace is sufficient for theesufficient for thee: for my strength is : for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.of Christ may rest upon me.

(10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in (10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.then am I strong.

My grace is sufficient for theeMy grace is sufficient for thee

Do you see how Satan works? Do you see how Satan works? He gets us feeling sorry for ourselves He gets us feeling sorry for ourselves

because we have a thorn our flesh… because we have a thorn our flesh… We start looking at all the negatives We start looking at all the negatives

around us….around us…. INSTEAD of looking at God’s sufficiency for INSTEAD of looking at God’s sufficiency for

us…us… Because we are saved, we have the ability Because we are saved, we have the ability

to live in the condition where the only to live in the condition where the only thing we need is God’s grace!thing we need is God’s grace!

What has Satan been using on What has Satan been using on you to distract you from God’s you to distract you from God’s

goodness?...goodness?...

Once you recognize Satan’s tricks, he Once you recognize Satan’s tricks, he cannot use them against you.cannot use them against you.

Episode 405 “Jones vs God”Episode 405 “Jones vs God”October 19, 1997October 19, 1997

The Mayor invites The Mayor invites the town to a the town to a memorial memorial potluck dinnerpotluck dinner

They were paying all their attention They were paying all their attention on the drought, they missed God’s on the drought, they missed God’s

blessings…blessings…

Are you paying too much attention to Are you paying too much attention to the negatives in your life, and the negatives in your life, and

ignoring God’s blessings?ignoring God’s blessings?

God gives you Grace,God gives you Grace,God supplies your God supplies your

needsneeds But there is a But there is a reason, he reason, he

showers you with showers you with graciousness, graciousness, and supplies and supplies

EVERYTHING you EVERYTHING you need….need….

3) So that you can work for Him3) So that you can work for Him

((8) And God 8) And God [is][is] able to make all able to make all grace abound toward you; grace abound toward you; that yethat ye, , always having all sufficiency in all always having all sufficiency in all [things][things], , may abound to every may abound to every good work:good work:

that ye…may abound to every that ye…may abound to every good work:good work:

Remember the Greek word is actually Remember the Greek word is actually “Superabound”… to abound, “Superabound”… to abound, overflow 1) to be abundantly overflow 1) to be abundantly furnished with, to have in furnished with, to have in abundance, abound in (a thing), to abundance, abound in (a thing), to be in affluence be in affluence 2) to be pre-eminent, to excel 2) to be pre-eminent, to excel 3) to excel more than, exceed 3) to excel more than, exceed

The reason he showers you with The reason he showers you with special favor…special favor…

And supplies all your needs is so that And supplies all your needs is so that you will do something for others…you will do something for others…

That you will That you will overflowoverflow blessings into blessings into other’s lives… other’s lives…

Not justNot just do do the good works… the good works… But doing so much good work that it’s But doing so much good work that it’s

addictive!!! addictive!!! You can’t stop yourself from helping You can’t stop yourself from helping

others….others….

4) Three things to notice…4) Three things to notice…

((8) And God 8) And God [is][is] able able to make all grace to make all grace abound toward abound toward you; you; that yethat ye, , always having all always having all sufficiency in all sufficiency in all [things][things], , may may abound to every abound to every good work:good work:

1. Notice the two 1. Notice the two words… “that words… “that ye”…ye”…

That ye what? That ye what?

Abound to every Abound to every good work… You good work… You can’t wait to help can’t wait to help others… others…

2. Notice the progression…2. Notice the progression…

1.God overflows grace into your life1.God overflows grace into your life

thenthen

2.Because of this, you have everything 2.Because of this, you have everything you need in this life.you need in this life.

So So

3. THAT you will not worry about your 3. THAT you will not worry about your own life, but will worry about working own life, but will worry about working for God and others.for God and others.

3. Notice two other words…3. Notice two other words…

At the front of the At the front of the verse… “is able”verse… “is able”

It says he is able, It says he is able, but not that he will but not that he will always always give you give you grace…grace…

((8) And God 8) And God [is][is] ableable to make all to make all grace abound grace abound toward you; that toward you; that ye, always having ye, always having all sufficiency in all all sufficiency in all [things][things], may , may abound to every abound to every good work:good work:

If you withhold blessings from others, If you withhold blessings from others, from your brothers and sisters, from from your brothers and sisters, from your church… don’t expect God to your church… don’t expect God to bless you… He won’t… bless you… He won’t… He is able toHe is able to… …

but if you don’t bless others, he but if you don’t bless others, he won’t bless you.won’t bless you.

Working for God is the best job in Working for God is the best job in the world…the world…

He, as an employer:He, as an employer:Doesn’t just give you a paycheck…. He gives Doesn’t just give you a paycheck…. He gives

you EVERYTHING you need, not only to do you EVERYTHING you need, not only to do the job, but also to live life.the job, but also to live life.

His Healthplan beats anything any insurance His Healthplan beats anything any insurance ever couldever could

He actually cares about his employees…He actually cares about his employees…He has an open door policyHe has an open door policy

And need I mention the retirement plan?...And need I mention the retirement plan?...A mansion…eternal life… HEAVEN!A mansion…eternal life… HEAVEN!

So, go out, and bless others…So, go out, and bless others…YOU are blessed, bless others.YOU are blessed, bless others.