II Corinthians 9:1-10
Preached Sunday Morning, July 5, 2009
Introduction:
Matthew 9:28-29
28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
In many churches across this country I am sure that preachers will be reflecting upon freedom and the state of our great nation. It is no secret that we are facing some challenging and even dangerous times. I would go so far as to say that the nation that we grew up with is being radically changed, perhaps even beyond repair, and apathetic, ineffective Christianity is to blame.
Today we are going to talk about economics. Jobless rates are at historical highs. The stock market is plummeting, and our retirement is fading away. It would seem that God is slowly removing His hand of blessing from our at one time very prosperous nation. This morning we are going to look at a way to protect our assets and our jobs. You see, God provides for us in order for us to serve Him with our increase. If we do not place our faith in Him regarding our finances, then He has no reason to protect what we have and provide future financial blessing.
You have heard the term “Faith Promise Missions” from time to time. This morning we are going to explain exactly what we mean by that, where we get it in the Bible, and why giving sacrificially to Faith Promise will help to protect and increase your financial ability to serve God. The blind came to Jesus and He told them that the blessings that they would receive would be in direct proportion to their faith in Him. I believe that this same principle applies to our finances. God blesses us according to our faith, this is the premise of faith promise giving.
I. Faith Promise Giving is not Tithing
A. Tithing was done before the Law and commanded by Jesus, therefore it was not done away with after Calvary.
Genesis 14:20
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Genesis 28:21-22
21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Matthew 23:23
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
B. Specific directions and promises correspond with tithing.
Malachi 3:8-11
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
1. A Tithe is 10%
2. To withhold a tithe is to rob God.
3. To withhold a tithe is to bring a curse on your finances.
4. To obey God and give tithes brings God’s blessings.
5. Tithes Go into God’s house.
6. The Church is God’s house this side of Calvary.
1 Timothy 3:15
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
7. Offerings are something given that is different than tithes.
II. Faith Promise Giving Supports works outside the Local Church.
A. The Church of Macedonia gave in spite of their poverty to support Paul and the other missionaries with him.
2 Corinthians 8:1-4
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
1. They were very poor
2. They were sacrificially giving to mission support.
3. Their gift was a way to join in fellowship with the missionaries.
B. Paul uses the Church of Macedonia to encourage the Corinthian church to continue the same practice.
2 Corinthians 9:1-5
For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. 3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
1. Paul is encouraged by the openness to missionary giving.
2. Compliance by the Corinthian Church had a direct effect on their testimony in the region.
III. Faith Promise Giving taps directly into the Promises of God.
A. You reap as you sow
2 Corinthians 9:6
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Philippians 4:15-17
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
Matthew 9:29
29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
B. This giving is not tithing because the individual determines the amount that you give.
2 Corinthians 9:7
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.
C. God will increase His grace toward those that need it.
2 Corinthians 9:8
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
D. Eternal souls are impacted by your faith or lack of it.
Romans 10:13-17
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1. To call upon the Lord, one must believe.
2. To believe, one must hear.
3. To hear, there must be a preacher.
4. To have a preacher, he must be sent.
5. Some missionaries will be hindered if we fail to meet our financial commitments.
6. There are many more mission fields that are waiting for preachers.
7. We need to send more missionaries, not just maintain the ones we have.
8. What are you willing to do regarding this need?
9. God will directly bless you according to your faith.