But the Lord will have us in
2nd Corinthians tonight, 2nd Corinthians 8. This is a message
that I've greatly battled with, preparing it, for this is something
that I myself have not talked about a lot throughout preaching. I know James knows I have not
heard James preach since he's been in ministry, but I know
since I've been at Grace Truth, I have heard not James talk a
lot about what we'll go through at 2 Corinthians. And most times
that I have heard a bunch of verses mentioned out of 2 Corinthians
chapter 8, it's been taken out of context. Most time people
run to chapter 8 of 2 Corinthians or run to chapter 9 of 2 Corinthians
to abuse the Word of God to get people to give. But that would
not be what I do today. I would, by God's grace, strive
to teach the Word of God accurately that God might be glorified and
we might be encouraged. So in 2 Corinthians 8, this is
what it reads. It says, we want you to know,
brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among
the Church of the Macedonian for a severe test of affliction,
their abundance of joy, and their extreme property. They have overflowed
with a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according
to their means, as I can testify, beyond their means of their own
accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part
and belief in the saints. And this, not as we expected,
but they gave themselves first to the Lord, then by the will
of God to us. Accordingly, we urge Titus that
as he has started, so he should complete among you this act of
grace, but as you excelled everything in faith and speech and knowledge, in all earnestness and love for
you, see that you excel in this act of grace also. We'll stop
there. Let's pray. Oh, great God, we
are so blessed to be able to even call you God and call you
our Heavenly Father. And you receive that knowing
that it's only by the work of your Holy Spirit in our hearts
and saving us and the finished work of Christ on the cross that
we can even call on your name when you hear us, Father. I pray,
Lord, that through us coming this morning, Father, you'd be
glorified through our spiritual worship, through truth to you,
Father. And I pray, God, that you open up our hearts and open
up our minds to hear your word and receive your word with with
hearts of joy, Lord, that we wouldn't find the teaching of
the word to ever be a burden to our life, but always be a
blessing to our life. Lord, I pray that you take me
a weak man and use me for your glory, understanding, Lord, that
as you very well know, that I have no strength at all, and I'm just
a dire need of your strength to be able to teach this message
to your flock. I pray, Lord, that your sheep
would hear your voice and follow you. We ask this in no other
name but the Alpha, the Omega, beginning and end, the first
and the last, the great God of the heavens and the earth who
created all things, our great Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. So we know Paul writes, some
would say the third letter. We know the first letter that
Paul writes was not recorded. and our scripture, but Paul writes
a second letter and then a year later he writes this letter.
Most of this letter has to do with Paul affirming his apostolic
ministry. We know many people would come
against Paul and his apostolic ministry saying he's really not
an apostle. How can he be an apostle and
really be suffering as much as he is? He's trying to steal from
the church's money and stuff. We know when we look at the life
of Paul, that was not the case, that he truly was an apostle.
And a lot of times, especially amongst the court, that Paul
would give up his right to receive benefits from the church, so
therefore he would not cause any of them to stumble. We also
know Paul writes this letter to exhort them, to give them
remembrance that this is not our home, that our life is passing
away, the world is passing away, and that we need to always have
our eyes set on Christ. have our eyes set on our heavenly
home, that we might live our life according to God's will
instead of according to the will of our flesh. We know this, he
also talks about how he wrote the last letter to them, which
was a year ago, and how they received that letter, and out
of great prayer and writing that letter, God, through the work
of the Spirit, granted them repentance. They did not have a worldly repentance
that leads to the flesh, but had a godly repentance and what?
Was led by the Spirit of God. And then at this point, in this
part of the letter, Paul would take chapter eight and chapter
nine and remind them of how they have promised in their hearts
to help the dear saints in Jerusalem who were suffering greatly. And
in verse eight, he starts off encouraging them by the work
of the saints in Macedonia. Now, Macedonia were made up of
the Philippian church. It was made up of the Thessalonica
church. It was made up of churches in
Maria. And he says here, we want you to know, brothers, about
the grace of God in verse 8, chapter 8, verse 1, about the
grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia.
As I noticed a lot through Paul's letters, he often mentions what
God is doing in other people's lives. Not that man would get
the glory. Not that this church would get
the glory. Not that Titus, when he mentions
Titus in letters or he mentions Timothy in letters. Not that
they would get the glory, but God would get the glory through
the work of them. Why would Paul take time to mention
Macedonia in their giving? Why would Paul take time to mention
about the work of Timothy and the work of Titus in his letters?
So that the church would be exhorted on into good works, that the
church would be encouraged of hearing how God is working in
other people's lives, and we know that God is the same as
yesterday, and He'll be the same through all the ages, and the
same way that God works in the lives of those saints around
the whole world, God can work in our lives. And it gives us
remembrance when we hear about how God is working in other people's
lives, it gives us remembrance that God is at work in the life
of the church. And what does it do? It takes
our eyes and it puts it back on Christ. Knowing that as Christ
works in others, Christ works in us well, for what? We all
have the same spirit. We all have the same spirit.
As the Holy Spirit dwells in people in Africa, as the Holy
Spirit dwells in people in Statesboro, in the church of Statesboro,
as the Holy Spirit dwells in people in Regan across the world,
the Holy Spirit dwells in his people here at Grace Truth. And
as the Holy Spirit dwelled in the people of Macedonia, the
Holy Spirit dwelled in the people of Corinth. Did you hear that?
And it's through the teaching of God's Word, and talking about
how God works in people's lives, that God uses it through the
work of the Spirit to exhort us into good works. Did you hear
that? And not only that, this is the amazing part. Macedonian
gave because they heard from the mouth of Paul how the Corinth
church was preparing to give. Think about that. Where'd I get
that? 2 Corinthians chapter 9, well
this is what it says. Now, it is no need for me to
write you about the ministry for the saints, for I know your
readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia.
saying that Acca had been ready since last year, and your zeal
has stirred them up for most of them. You hear that? As Paul
went about talking about how Corinth was ready to give by
the power of the work of the Holy Spirit working in them,
guess what? These poor saints in Macedonia says, well, we need
to sink our face to the board and pray so that our prayer of
God might stir us up to see what we have that we might be able
to help the poor saints in where? In Jerusalem, who were suffering
greatly. But not only that, Paul would also teach in 1 Corinthians
11 that as what? As he imitates Christ, I mean
imitate him as he imitates Christ. That we might imitate each other
as long as we all are imitating Christ. Therefore that God might
receive the glory for what? All things that we do. That was
Paul's mindset when he talks about being imitators of him
as he is of Christ. That God might receive the glory of all
things. But notice here as well, he says,
In verse one of chapter eight, we want you to know, brothers,
about the grace of God that has been given among you, the churches
of Macedonia. Now hear that. A lot of times
when we think about the grace of God, which it should, the
first thought should go to where? To the gospel. Should. I mean, every time I hear about
the grace of God, I'm like, wow. The grace of God, it's hard to
even contain it. in my mind of the overflowing,
the unmeasurable, the great love of God. In what? Sending his
son, Jesus Christ. To what? Pay to the penalty for
sin. For whom? Good sinners. No, for
wicked, vile sinners such as myself that Christ would hang
up on the cross naked showing that he had took on our sin and
suffer the consequences of sin on the cross. Did he deserve
it? No, he was holy. But we know
without the Without a holy sacrifice, God cannot forgive sins. And
we know Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God who was slain for
us. Then Christ took on our sin, He took the wrath of God for
the church, what, three days later He rose again, and by God's
grace, unmerited favor, meaning we do not deserve it, God gives
us the grace to see that truth. Though we were not there, though
we did not witness it. We didn't witness it, witness
the life of Christ. We didn't witness his death.
We didn't witness the resurrection, but we have witnessed it. Because the spirit of God has
given us the grace to believe it. Through grace of God has
given us the grace to give up all of our lives for the sake
of the gospel. Trusting him. hoping in it, knowing
that all of our joy comes from the gospel. All of our hope comes
from the gospel. Because nothing else in this
life, beloved, can give us that type of joy. Nothing else in
this life can give us that type of peace. It's only by the grace
of God and understanding the gospel that we are satisfied
in Christ alone. And we have peace alone. We have
joy alone in Christ alone. But through that grace, God,
through the work of his spirit, called us, what? to do good works. I mean, we love the mention of
Ephesians 2, 8 and 9, right? For what? It says, well, by grace
you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing,
it is a gift from God. No result of works that no one may boast,
for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works
which God prepared beforehand in which you walk in. So we see
God's grace that he saves us, Not of our own doing, but God
gives us graces for repentance that we might repent, that we
might have a change of mind about who we are and who He is. And
if God gives us the measure of faith, then we might trust in
Christ alone for salvation. But also through that same grace,
through the work of the Holy Spirit, He causes us to walk
in the good words that He predestined for us. Hear that. And we know in Titus as well,
when Paul says salvation, the Spirit to all people, we're talking
about those who have been saved, that the grace of God trains
us in righteousness. But the grace of God, as he goes
on to say in Titus 2.11, that it makes us zealous for good
works. It makes us zealous for good
works. That faith, we know faith without
good works is dead. That faith through the work of
the Holy Spirit causes us to have good works for the glory
of God. And no, we do not preach good works. You must have good
works to be saved. We know no way in the world that
our works will ever make us right with God, that we've all fallen
short. And no matter how many good works
I do, no matter how many good deeds I've had, there's no hope
in them. We stand on the things that professing
Christians is all seeking, saying. And I believe that's the context
when Jesus is teaching with the servant of the mount that it's
the professing ones who are standing on seeking sin because they trust
on the works rather than trusting in Christ's love and salvation.
But it does not take away that if God saves us, he makes us
zealous for good works. Hear that. Not teaching a work
salvation as some might accuse me of by teaching that we will
have good works, but we know the spirit of God as he saves
us, he makes us ready for good works. Why? Because beforehand,
all of our works were for ourselves. Before God said that all of our
works is for our own glory, that we might be esteemed, that we
might sit on the throne and everybody bowed to thee to us and oh, look
at him, oh, look at him. Isn't that most preachers and
pulpits today? They seek their own glory rather
than the glory of God. But we as the church do good
works, not for our glory, but for his glory. So we see the grace of God prepares
us for good works. The works that God prepared beforehand.
Meaning all the works that God prepared beforehand through the
work of His Spirit in me is gonna cause me to do them all. That's what we call the sovereign
God. You know, we know the good works that God had prepared for
John the Baptist was predicted before John the Baptist even
came through the mouth of the prophets. And we know through the work
of the Holy Spirit what happened. He walked in them good works, preparing
the way of the Messiah. But notice here, we want you
to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given
among the churches of Macedonia. And then he says, for in a severe
test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty,
they have overflowed with a wealth of generosity on their part.
Now, we know the early church, especially in this area, always
suffered great affliction. The Corinthians were not, though
they were suffering some, They were more of a area, like we
are in America, where there's not great persecution for the
sake of the gospel. Now, I'm not saying they didn't
get persecuted, but they were nowhere suffering affliction for the
sake of the gospel as the church was in Macedonia. We know that
Macedonia, you're talking about 1 Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonica,
that we know Paul, when he was there, it was only for a short
period of time. Why? Because they had to stick him out the
window because they were going to kill him. And we know from there
on, even some of the Thessalonians or Thessalonica, the church there,
after they let Paul go, the one who kept Paul in his home was
severely beaten for the sake of the gospel. That this church
here was in great affliction because they had trusted in Christ.
And when I say trusted in Christ, meaning they believed in the
gospel of the good news of Jesus Christ, which is the same thing.
They trusted in that. Meaning by faith alone and cross
alone, we are saved. By His grace alone. Hear that? And they suffer for that. Because
Paul says, look, if I was still preaching in other parts of the
scripture, if I was still preaching a work salvation, then I would
not be what? Persecuted for the sake of Christ. Then when we preach grace alone,
it's how men are saved through faith alone. We get persecuted. that if they were preaching something
else here and holding fast to something else here, they would
not be suffering. And only were they suffering
because they preached that gospel. They were suffering because they
didn't preach that gospel indoors. They preached that gospel outside.
They were going about in their marketplaces, which was a proper
place teaching what? The gospel of Jesus Christ. Realizing
that God was going to save the people and by the means God saves
people is what? Through the hearing of the gospel.
Isn't that why Paul went to Corinth to begin with? That he receives
a vision from the Lord saying, what? Paul, I have people here. I have people here, Paul. So
what does Paul do? Paul spends almost two years
there knowing that God is sitting there that God might save his
elect through the hearing of the gospel. That God might save
lost men. through the hearing of the gospel.
And because they had held fast to the gospel, they were afflicted
in any way. Many of them were losing their
homes. Many of them were losing their jobs, which caused what? Poverty. This is what it says. It says, for a severe test of affliction,
their abundance of joy. Notice they had great affliction,
but at the same time had overflowing joy. Now, if one's on mine, there's
no way that can happen. No way. If one is afflicted,
what do we do? We mourn. We get upset. We worry. But you can't find
joy nowhere in, if you really just think about it, it's hard
to find joy in people who are afflicted. Why? Because the world is falling
apart around them. I mean, imagine you believing
the gospel and losing your child for it. Imagine having a job
and you're supporting your family off that job and you start believing
in the gospel and your boss fires you for it. And you got to go
back home not knowing how in the world you're going to take
care of your family. Because you are a minister of the gospel.
You're a witness of the gospel. And you lose it. That's what
type of affliction they were going through. Not only were
they being beaten, but they were losing everything for the sake
of Christ. But they still had abundance. overflowing amount
of joy. How? Because they knew Christ.
They knew Christ. That Christ was their treasure. Christ was their treasure. And
when Christ is our treasure, it doesn't matter what's going
on in my life. I can still have joy. Now, of
course, if my joy is wrapped up in money, if my joy is wrapped
up in my job, if my joy is wrapped up in my spouse, if my joy wrapped
up in my kids, then what happens? That joy fades. It fades. That's not an everlasting joy.
Because everything we hope fast to in this life, apart from Christ,
only gives us joy for a moment. And eventually what happens?
That joy fades. It goes away. I often, one thing
I love about preaching in nursing homes is I get the remembrance
of that because they can look back over the 80 years of their
life and realize that everything that gave them joy in this life
is all gone now. Their kids don't come see them
like they should. They've forgotten, they're left
behind. Their spouse might come and take care of them a little
bit, but they're forgotten about. Everything they had their hope
in, everything they had their joy is now gone. Showing us what? Giving them remembrance of what?
That there's no joy in this life. That this church, even though
they've suffered a lot and had nothing, they had joy because
they had Christ. They were known by God. God has
saved them. God has sealed them with the
power of the Holy Spirit. But when we have Christ, we have
everything. We have everything. And when
we're afflicted and God takes things from us, we should rejoice.
Because the purpose of God taking things from us, beloved, that
we might rest in Him. That we might remember that I
should not set my affection on these things, but I should set
my affection on Christ, which is an enduring affection, an
everlasting affection. Young people, don't chase after
a world where it will give you no joy, give you heartache, give
you sorrows. Chase after Christ. Jesus had
to cross. And because they had abundance
of joy and cross alone, because their eyes were on cross alone,
even though they were in poverty, they were flowing with wealthier
generosity on their part. Meaning they were broke Christians. Probably more broke than any
of us in this room. I'm not saying some of us are
not struggling. But when we talk about poverty,
we're talking about third world countries. Think about it. Not knowing how they're really
going to get their next meal. Not knowing if they're going
to be able to get clean water that day. I mean, they were without
nothing. And yet, those who were without
nothing are giving to another church that's without nothing.
That makes no sense to the physical mind. Does it? No! How can he who has nothing
give to him also who has nothing? Oh, by the Spirit of God working
in the hearts of people. Those who have little will give
to those who also have little. Those who have nothing will strive
to find a way to help those who also have nothing, that God might
be glorified. He says, for on a severe test
of affliction, their abundance of joy, their extreme poverty
have overflowed and a wealth of generosity on their part.
For they gave according to their means. Notice that. So here,
if they gave according to means, I know eventually he's going
to say they gave above their means, but let's just talk about it a minute
for giving according to one's own means. That's what Paul's
teaching here. That they looked and saw what they had. They said,
look, we, though we had nothing, we had this extra, I guess. And
they said, we will take this and we will give it to Paul so
that Paul, when he goes to Jerusalem, he might be able to bring relief,
bring the grace of God with him to relieve these saints who are
struggling. in Jerusalem. So they gave according
to the Bible. Nowhere in the New Testament
does it teach us a certain amount that we must give. That we are
not a part of the yoke of Moses' law anymore. That we have liberty
in Christ. That we're not commanded by God
now to give 10%. And we know in that day, really
10% was 30%. But most pastors and teachers
will not preach that and teach that. We know we must give according
to Paul here. We must give according to our
means. When should we give according to our means? Well, Paul writes
the first letter, 1 Corinthians 16, 1. It says this, 1 Corinthians
16, 1. He says, concerning the collection
for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you
also are to do. On the first day of every week,
each of you is to put something aside and store it up as he may
prosper so that there will be no collecting when I come." What's
Paul saying here? He's saying, I've already written
and told the Galatian church and I'm telling you now that
you should set something apart each week so that when I come
you're not struggling to gather up that which you've already
promised to do. That's what he's teaching them. And beloved, if
he taught relation to that, he taught us that I know this is
talking about the property of the saint, but I also believe
throughout scripture that we are the saint should, by God's
grace, become better stewards with what God has given us. Because
think about this. Many professing Christians at
this time of year will set money apart so they can get into Georgian
football games. Now, is there anything wrong
with football? If you want to go to Georgia football games,
go. Not teaching against football here. Many professing Christians
will set money apart during this time of the year so they can
do all their hunting. I used to hunt. Hunt ain't cheap,
especially if you join a hunting club. I mean, you're talking
about thousands of dollars, especially if you join a good hunting club.
But many Christians will set money apart for that, not including
the ammo and all that. But is there anything wrong with
hunting? Absolutely not. If you like to hunt, hunt. Nothing
against hunting. But what I'm getting at is that
we always, in the flesh, will set things apart. I'm not talking about Grace Tree,
I'm talking about professional Christians now. But if you fall in the category,
that's not me convicting you, that's God convicting you. But
we'll set money apart for everything pertaining to the flesh. I mean, how many professors do
you know will spend all year preparing for vacation? For a
week of joy, for a week of relief, evacuation. Is there anything
wrong with going on vacation? No. Not teaching anything's wrong
with vacation. But what I'm saying is, if we
will set money aside for all these fleshly things, then she
would not more set things aside for the work of the kingdom of
God. That's what I'm getting at there. If I'll set this side
of money each week to eat out, why not eat at home if my eating
out prevents me from getting to church? Hear that, that we should pray.
And see, beloved, this isn't something easy to do because
for some of this flesh, the flesh want what it wants. I mean, there's been many times
in my life as a believer that I have not practiced this. but we should pray that God would
lead us to practices. That we would, in our minds, prepare
each week, or maybe if we give once a month, prepare each month
of what we would set aside, whether it be 10%, whether it be 30%,
whether it be 1%, maybe a half a percent, or a quarter of a
percent, and so on and so on. But we would pray, what would
the Lord have us to give? What would the Lord have me to
give? And we know if we don't, we give according to our means.
Because listen to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9, 6. He says, this point is this,
whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he's decided
in his heart, not relying on their own compulsion, for God
loves what you're forgiving. And God is able to make all grace
abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things,
at all times, you may abound in every good work. Abound in every good work. So God doesn't tell us that we
must give this, this 10% each week, according to the law of
Moses, or every time that day had come. No, God teaches us
what? That we should pray, and we should give according as the
Lord leads us to give. Because God loves us, you're
a forgiver. Didn't know once you give out a compulsion. As
we're in here at Grace Truth, we don't pass the offering plate.
Because we don't want people to give out a compulsion. I imagine
at Grace Truth, if me and James wanted to become rich and live
more of a high style life, we probably could bring the offering
plates and be able to give more. But that ain't what scripture
teaches us to do. Scripture teaches that we as
a section pray about how much God will give us and what we
do. We rejoice in that giving. Giving is making sacrifice to
the Lord. He says, for they gave according
to their means. And then Paul says, as I can
testify beyond their means of their own accord. See that? Then
not only were they given according to their means, Paul says they
went far beyond their means to what? To help the saints. Far
beyond their means. Now what that looked like, I
don't know. I don't know how poverty, people who are in poverty,
can go far and above their means. But evidently, they knew God
through prayer, would bless them in a way that not that they could
store up to see how they could get food next week, but would
bless them in a way that they could send money to help the
relief of the saints knowing that God would give them food
next week. I mean, how did those go? Jesus
in Luke 12 mentions the poor widow. Who what? Gave all that
she had. And when she gave, was she commanded
to give all she had? No. But she was ready to give
all she had. She probably had prayed about
before she went. And the Lord, through the work
of the Holy Spirit in her heart, caused her to give all that she
had. Now, those who were rich there gave out of their abundance.
It probably did not hurt them none to give what they gave.
But this poor widow woman gave all that she had. And Jesus says
she gave more than the rest of them. Fiscally, did she give
more than the rest of them? No. But according to Isaac God,
because she gave out of her poverty all that she had, she did give. That they gave more than they
had, so that God would be glorified. Willow gave more than she had,
knowing that God would be glorified. But also knowing that as she
gave, God would bless her. Now this is where the prosperity
teachers wrote about the guy. that if you want God to bless
you, you better sow it in my ministry.
If you want God to bless you, you better start giving more
money. But why do they teach that? One, they want to fill
their pocketbook up. And why do people give? Because
they want to fill their pocketbook up. I mean, think about it. That's
a pretty good investment. If I give $100, by next week,
I'm getting $1,000 back. That's a good investment. I mean,
if it's true what they're teaching, which it's not. I mean, think
about if I invest $2,000, what? He's not here. $20,000. I'm getting
$20,000. That's probably the best investment you make. Hey,
if that's the case, we need to start giving more money, man.
We can get rich in this place. Off their way of thinking. But that ain't the case. Get it,
we give because God loves us, you're forgiven. We don't give
to get back. Get it, we don't give to get
back. If we give to give back, we fall into people in James
4, who God calls a bunch of adulterous people. They have not, because
they ask not when they do ask, they ask to spend it on the passions
of their flesh. Meaning the only reason they're
asking God is so that they can live a better lifestyle in this
world, rather than seeking God's face that the more he gives them,
they might be able to give more back. That's the purpose of God
giving to us, is that we might build the kingdom of God. And
as we sow the word of God, God gives, or sow physically into
the kingdom of God, God blesses us what? More, so what we might
continue to do with it? Sow. and to the kingdom of God. Give to the kingdom of God. But
also this poor woman gave us our estate because she knew that
God was not going to make her rich, but God would continue
to take care of her. Men, you know what Jesus teaches
on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6? He says, look at the
birds. Look at the birds. Of they neither
sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father
feeds them. If God so clothed the grass of the field, today
as the life of tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much
more clothe you? So we have that promise from
God. They knew this promise from God. That God will continue to
take care of us. that I don't have to hoard up
in my savings account and not build the kingdom of God with
my savings account because my hope is not in my savings account,
my hope is in God. Knowing that fully, He's going
to take care of me. Fully. I know before God saved
me, my hope was in my savings account. It was not in God meeting
my needs. It was in Jesse meeting my needs.
And I had to have a certain amount of my savings account or I was
broke. I was broke. If I didn't have
this amount of money in my savings account, I was broke. Others
might have a different amount. And that was not trusting in
God to meet my needs. In my future needs, that was
trusting in my savings account to meet my needs. Rather than using my savings
account to build the kingdom of God, I was using my savings account
to build my own kingdom and to build my future kingdom. Beloved,
we should not do that. We shouldn't store up, but forsaken
storing up, especially if we're not in the practice of taking
that which God gives us and setting aside for the kingdom work. He says, as I can testify beyond their
means of their own accord. So here, Paul, I'm backtracking
a bit on this verse, but Paul says, I'll testify this is what
they really did. And whether Paul saw it or not,
it doesn't matter if Paul saw it. It doesn't. We know they
were not just giving so they could get a pat on the back from
Paul. If it'd be their mindset, if
they didn't have to give the money to Paul, they probably
wouldn't even want Paul to know about it. Because we know what
we give is secret. We give a secret. We shouldn't
be like, you know, some churches that next day none of those who
give the most money end up getting a plaque in the church. Off giving? A lot of worldly organizations
do that. Well, you know, if you'll send
us this much money, we'll give you a flat. So everybody will
know that you gave this amount of money. No, that we give a
secret. We don't go about boasting about
how much we have gave. That we give a secret. And whether
it doesn't matter if man sees it or not. Why? Because we're
not seeking what? The glory of man. We're not seeking
the glory of man, we're seeking what? The glory of God. And when
we give in secret, without no one knowing, we know it's God
working through us to get the glory. Then he says, continue on in
this in verse four. He says, not only were they given
to their own accord, but begging us earnestly for the favor of
taking part in the relief of the saints. So you have this
impoverished people begging Paul, Paul, I know you see we are in
poverty, Paul, but Paul, we must take part in this. God has called
us to his kingdom and we must help by God's grace to supply
bread for other people in the same. of the saints throughout
the world. God has stirred us up to do this,
Paul. Paul, it is a favor. It's a favor, meaning it's a
blessing, not a burden on us, Paul, to take part in this. Because
if it had been a burden for them to take part in this, they definitely
wouldn't have been begging Paul to be able to do so. No, they
rejoiced. They found it to be a pleasure. They didn't feel a burden. And
they didn't think they had to give it out of command. It wasn't
even an obligation to them. They'd done this out of love
for the brethren, whom many of them had never even seen before.
They'd heard from the mouth of Paul how the church was suffering
in Jerusalem, and they realized that they'd never seen these
people. They were the children of God from the mouth of Paul.
And what did they do? They sinned. They take what they
have, and beyond what they have, and they sin, begging Paul to
take that which they give them, that the church in Jerusalem
might be blessed, that they might be able to continue to eat. They
weren't sinning for the pastors in Jerusalem to get the bigger
house. They weren't sinning for the poor people in Jerusalem
to become rich. They were sinning so that the
four people in Jerusalem could eat and be clothed and possibly
have a roof over their head. He says, begging us earnestly
for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.
No, the begging because they want to bring relief to whom? The world? To the world? No, to the saints. The church isn't supposed to
go out and feed the world. I know that is rare talking there. And of course, if we see somebody
in need of food, we feed them. If somebody walks through our
door and they're a lost man or they're hungry, we feed them. But the purpose
of the church is to take care of the church. The purpose of the church is
to take care of the church. I've heard of many churches that when
a member of the church has a hardship and they go to the pastor of
the church and they tell them about their hardship, the first
thing they do is check their tithing record. And if they have
not been meeting their tithing record, they say, what? We cannot
help you. But then a lost man walks in
right after, they see a man down the street and then they'll feed
him. But they'll tell the saint, I can't help you. Jesus, when
he was teaching, when you saw me naked and you clothed me,
when I was hungry and you fed me, when I was in prison and
you visited me, when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink.
He's not talking about lost people in that parable. He's talking
about we saw this church hungry, we fed them. We saw the church
naked, we clothed them. We visited church in prison,
even though it was going to cost us our lives to go visit them
in prison, meaning we were going to be thrown in prison with them.
We're going to visit them in that day. that they wanted to take part
in the belief of the saints. They had a desire in their heart
to see the saints' needs met. So not only were they setting
money apart for the saints, they also, though it's not written
here, but throughout scripture, we know the common practice for
the church to set aside money to take care of whom? The church. The physical church, the local
church, not just missionaries or poverty churches across the
world, but to take care of whom? The apostles. To take care of Peter. Remember
when they came together at Pentecost, they had all things in common.
The rich were selling their land to take care of the poor, but
also take care of the apostles so that apostles could do the
work of the ministry. And we know also in when Paul writes
to Timothy, he says this, he says, let the elders who rule
well be considered worthy of the water, especially those who
labor preaching and teaching. For the scripture says you should
not muzzle an ox when he treads out the grain and the labor deserves
his wages. Also, when Paul's talking about
giving to the elders or supporting the elders in 1 Corinthians 9,
He says this, he says, if we talk about him being an apostle
and elder, he says, if we have some spiritual things among you,
is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share
this rightful claim on you, do not Do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made
use of this right, but we endure everything rather than put an
obstacle in the way of the gospel. Do you not know that those who
are employed in the temple serve to get their food from the temple,
and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offering
in the same way the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel
should get their living by the gospel? So what is that teaching
us there? What is Paul teaching in First
Timothy and also in Corinthians? That the church should set aside
not only money to take care of the poor saints, but to take
care of the teaching elders. And we know who our main teaching
elder here is, James. James. That we, the church, should
pray that God would call us to give so that our brother James,
whom God has given to what? Shepherd us, could be taken care
of. Notice Paul in Corinthians mentions
the temple service. Why? In the Old Testament, those
who worked in the temple, all they could do was what? Work
in the temple. So how could they be supported?
By those who gave to the temple. Those who had to do the sacrificial
offering. I mean, if you know anything
about the Old Testament, man, there was a lot of animals killed. I mean, you gotta thank thousands
of people arriving with their sacrifice. Well, those who were
in the practice of doing that, the priests and Aaron and all
of them, Moses, how in the world did they get fed? How in the
world could they take care of their families? How? Through the sacrificial offering.
That they would what? receive a portion of it so that
they could eat so they could be taken care of. What about
a mix of the ox? Well, the ox Ranger works in
your field all day. Should we not feed him? I mean, he ain't got time to go
to anything else. I'm using him to what? Work in the field. Does
he not deserve food for work? In the same way, beloved, does
those who preach the gospel Do they not deserve wages? If they
have some spiritual things among us, should they not receive material
things from us? Think about it. I've never told James this, but James, by the grace of God,
is probably one of the most important people in my life. He's more important to me than
my mama. He's more important to me than my daddy. He's probably
more important to me than my children, and possibly my wife. How could you say such a thing?
Because God has put him over me to shepherd me. God could use my mama, God could
use my wife, God could use my children to shepherd me. But under the context of what
scripture teaches, God has placed James Tippins over my life to
shepherd me in the Word. to give me spiritual wisdom,
to lead me in the way of godliness, to lead me in the way of righteousness. I mean, if it weren't for God
using James Tiffins over shepherding me, I probably wouldn't know
as much as I do about God. Of course, reading God's word
is how I've come to know God, not just through hearing James
teach, but God has used James instrumental in my life to teach
me the word. Just like God used Paul to instrumental,
teach Timothy to work, and Titus to work. Think about it a little. I mean,
is that not why all of us drive from Meadow, from Statesboro,
from outside of Claxton? Why? Why not just go to some
of them churches? Why? Because we know we're not
being fed there. So we wanted to drive 45 minutes
away. Some, I mean, remember Angela,
Angela drive all the way from, from yeah, where he said, I had a
banker. He's going to from there to come
here. And she could not see it. So then one of the brothers in
the church would drive all the way from reason to go get her. and bring her all the way here,
and drive her all the way back, and drive all the way back home.
Why? So that we can eat the word of
God. So we can receive spiritual things. What is more important than that?
It's not why we all have arrived here this morning not to know
I was preaching, but we assume James would be preaching this
morning. find that by God's grace in James'
life, not that we owe James, James is just an empty vessel
that God uses for his glory. James would even proclaim out
of his mouth that he's nothing, which he is nothing. It's God
who works in James to shepherd us. I mean, when we have issues,
who do we call? Who do we call at church? Do
we go to some other pastor? No. We go to who God has ordained
to be our pastor, our shepherd. And you do not know at times
James had to take a side job to take away from the work of
the ministry to meet the needs of his family. Yes. But that should not be so. Of course, there could be seasons
where God has blessed him in such a way. But we as the church
should pray how much God would have us set apart each week that
we might be able to meet the needs, not only to have the lights
on, They had to pay the power bill. Well, the same thing locks
on paying the power bill. Paying the water bill, paying
the internet, but to meet the needs of our beloved pastor,
who God has called the shepherds. He said, begging us earnestly
for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.
And this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first
to the Lord, then by the will of God to us. Notice that, that
they gave themselves first to the Lord. Because if they would
have never gave themselves first to the Lord, then they would
have never out of their poverty been able to help the transgender
in poverty. Would have never been able to do so. They gave
themselves first to the Lord because they love the Lord, first
of all. that they sought God in prayer, that through praying
to God, that God would answer their prayers and work in their
hearts according to his own will. Should we not take everything
to God, as I've been teaching through this whole thing, that
we should seek God's face about how he would have us to give,
how he would have us to be good stewards, not only with our money,
but with our time, that we must make the best use of our short
time on earth, that God might be glorified through our little
lives, Then he says that this, not as
we expected, well we already said that, but they gave themselves
first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. They trusted
in God, they prayed, and Paul was alarmed by their giving.
He didn't expect it. He knew they probably was gonna
give, but to go far beyond their own means to give, I imagine
Paul was blown away, not by them, but by the work of God in them.
That's when he writes to, 2 Corinthians 4, it just says, look what these
poor saints have done, that they might be encouraged. But also,
when you think, if they gave themselves for the Lord, when
you think about the gospel, I love what Paul says in 2 Corinthians
2, 9. He says, or it might be 8, 9.
He says, he says, 2 Corinthians 8, 9 or 9, I miswrote there.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though
he was rich, Yet for your sake became poor so that you might,
by his poverty, become rich. Now, what does that sound like,
first of all? Jesus is rich. He became poor
so I could be rich. That's how most prophetary preachers
preach. What Jesus is, what Paul is teaching them there is this,
that God was rich in heaven. He was in his own glory. He was
the king in heaven. And what happened? Christ comes
and becomes poor. Christ leaves glory, becomes
poor, that he might make poor people rich, not in this world,
but in the world to come. God sacrificed all things for
the sake of his church. In the first part of Matthew,
the Sermon on the Mount, he says, blessed is the poor. Bless his
poor, what? Spiritually poor people, bankrupt,
spiritually poor people, because by God's grace, he makes them
rich through hearing the gospel. It doesn't matter how poor one
is earthly, he's rich if he has Christ. He's rich if he has Christ. He's beyond rich if he has Christ,
because God has gave him the greatest gift of all, which is
eternal life, which he has received through, by God's grace, trusting
in Christ. In the same way, if God has made us rich, Spiritually,
should we not take our earthly stuff and use it for the kingdom
of God? That's what he's teaching us.
Should we not help the poor? Should we not meet the needs of the
saints? Of course we should. If God has done all that for
us, should we not strive to do more? And I'm closing here. And
what is the outcome of all this? Well, I've already said it once.
God is glorified. But how? Read us. Turn with me to 2 Corinthians
9. For the ministry of this service
is not supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing
in many thanksgiving to God. By their approval of this service,
they will glorify God because of your submission that comes
from your confession of the gospel of Christ and the generosity
of your contribution for them and for all others. While they
long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace
of God upon you, thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift. See, our giving produces thanksgiving
to God. Hear that. That out of their
giving, out of the church's giving in Galatia, out of their church's
giving out of Macedonia, that the Jerusalem church, when they
receive this, will give thanks to God for what? Meeting their
needs through the ministry of the saints. And what does that
do? That causes them to pray to God
and give God thanks for saving these people. It would help them
Jews. Gentiles helping Jews. Had to
be a work of God. Had to be a work of God. Especially
Gentiles never meeting Jews. Had to be a work of God. And
they would not seek to give God, I mean they would not seek to
give them glory, they would seek to give God glory in return of
thanks to God. And the only return of thanks
to God is to pray for these people. Pray that God would continue
to work in their hearts, that they might continue to have generosity,
that God would continue to work in their hearts, that they might
continue to trust in Christ alone for salvation. Let's pray. Father
God, I pray, Lord, that you would just take that which I said today
that maybe I shouldn't have said, Lord, and you just erase it from
our memories, Lord. But Lord, the things that you
Have me say that we're profitable, Father. I pray, Lord, that you
would always bring that to our minds. I pray that we would never suppress
the truth of the word of God, that your word would always be
living in our hearts and always on our minds, Father, that we
might glorify you and strive through the power of your Holy
Spirit by faith to be obedient to you. Lord, I pray that you
would stir us up to give as you call us to give, Father, that
we not give to get back what we give to glorify you, what
we give to be a sacrifice unto you, O God. And I pray, Lord,
for our children. I pray, Lord, that they may not
grow up seeking the kingdom of the world, which perishes, but
seeking the everlasting kingdom, which is you, Jesus Christ. I
pray, Lord, that if any of our children be lost, Lord, I pray
that you save them. You save their soul, Father, and give
them an understanding of the gospel, that they might trust in the
cross, Lord, for salvation. I pray, Lord, that you continue to use
James in our life, shepherd us, Father, continue to give him
wisdom, give him knowledge of your word, that you might be
glorified through our brother in us all and understand who
you are in the essence of Jesus' name. Amen.