The Blessings of Obedience
Review previous lessons on “giving”.
The call to generous giving
Do what you say you will do.
Finish what you start.
2 Corinthians 9:8-15 NLT
8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!
Examine the scriptures:
The Blessings of Obedience.
If you give generously …
2 Corinthians 9:8-15 NLT
8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV (Another translation that was helpful to me.)
8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
- God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. WOW!
2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
Philippians 1:6
6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
It’s not ours, it all belongs to God. He allows us to use it.
9 As the Scriptures say, (Psalm 112:9)
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
Psalm 112:1 & 9 NLT
1 Praise the Lord!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands. …
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
Proverbs 19:17 NLT
17 If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—
and he will repay you!
Matthew 25:40 NLT
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
- As the Scriptures say, our good deeds will be remembered forever.
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
God provides.
God increases your resources.
God produces a great harvest.
- God provides. God increases your resources. God produces a great harvest.
11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.
- As you give you will be enriched, as you are enriched you can give more and more.
And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
Two results:
Physical needs are being met.
God is being praised.
13 As a result of your ministry, they (the Jerusalem Church) will give glory to God.
- Two good things will result from your ministry of giving to believers—the needs of the believers will be met, and the believers will joyfully express their thanks to God (God will be praised).
For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.
- Your generosity is a display of obedience to the good news of Christ.
James 2:14-18 NLT
Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
John 13:35 NLT
35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
- The generosity of the Corinthian Church is seen, by the Jerusalem Church, as evidence of a genuine relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
14 And they (the Jerusalem Church) will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.
Overflowing grace – eternal salvation – spiritual riches.
Others will pray for you.
- The Jerusalem Church prayed for the Corinthian Church with deep affection
15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!
- Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!
An indescribable gift!
How do we thank God for all He has done for us?
We love Him because He first loved us.
We serve the Lord
Psalm 100:2 NLT
2 Worship (serve) the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
We don’t hesitate to bless others with material gifts.
- How do we thank God for all He has done for us?
- We love Him because He first loved us.
- We serve Him.
- We don’t hesitate to bless others with material gifts.
