Sunday, July 23, 2023 AM
RETURN TO HOLINESS:
“Unthankfulness –Sowing and Reaping – A Generous Life”
Mike Teel, Pastor
FOCAL PASSAGE:
1 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 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. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. —II Corinthians 9:1-10
Here is the first thing to consider:
WHAT YOU KEEP IS ALL YOU HAVE – WHAT YOU GIVE GOD
It’s when we release through generosity our possessions the opportunity to Multiply occurs.
Luke 6:38
38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” —Luke 6:38
Distortion of this principle.
–Prosperity Gospel – God makes you rich if you live right!
–Poverty Gospel – flipside – If you are poor then you must not have faith or you are doing something wrong.
–Scripture says, “if you are faithful with little, God will give you more.” Luke 12:48
WHAT YOU KEEP IS ALL YOU HAVE, BUT WHEN YOU GIVE GOD MULTIPLIES.
OF SOWING AND REAPING
1. Why Paul is writing to the people of Achaia.
–The church at Achaia had out of their very generous hearts in the midst of their own poverty made a commitment to gather an offering to give to the Macedonians.
–Paul had bragged about their generous spirit and did not want to show up unannounced and them not be prepared to give their offering. (Many times it took time for them to collect an offering of this type).
Here is the principle as Paul presented it …
2. YOU REAP
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. —Galatians 6:7
–If you read on in context, Paul is saying if you sow seeds of unrighteousness you are going to have wicked responses.
–You reap what you sow.
3. YOU REAP
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. —Matthew 19:29
–If you lay down your life for Christ, you will receive more than you have given.
OF STEWARDSHIP
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. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. —II Corinthians 9:8-11
1. YOUR
MATTERS WHEN YOU GIVE
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. —II Corinthian 9:6-7
–God loves a cheerful giver. Remember the Greek word translated cheerful can actually be translated hilarious.
WHAT YOU KEEP, IT’S ALL YOU HAVE. WHAT YOU GIVE, GOD MULTIPLIES.
2. YOU
OUT GIVE GOD!
8 And God is able to (make all grace abound to you) bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. —II Corinthians 9:8-10
–Like the sower sowing seed. He is giving gifts (v. 9).
–What seeds do you have to give: time, gifts, heart, words, things, financial resources? He has given you seeds.
–God has supplied you with seeds (v. 10).
WHAT YOU KEEP, IT’S ALL YOU HAVE. WHAT YOU GIVE, GOD MULTIPLIES.
3. GOD WANTS US TO BE A GENEROUS PEOPLE AND A
CHURCH.
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. —II Corinthians 9:5
–We depend upon the generosity of our folks who give above and beyond just the tithe so we can have a greater affect upon our community.
–This is why we support 6 different missionary families who have some connection with our church.
–We contribute to the Food Bank and Pregnancy Resource Center – but how much more could we do if we all were generous with what we have?
–This is why we are waiting to remodel our Worship Center until through the generosity of God’s people we have funds to complete the project because we do not want to get burdened down with servicing debt and be unable to respond to a need when it presents itself. It will be a monument like the rest of our facilities of Generous Giving.
–Remember God loves a hilarious, generous giver!
WHAT YOU KEEP, IT’S ALL YOU HAVE. WHAT YOU GIVE, GOD MULTIPLIES.
LIVE IT OUT!
–What do you need to do today to begin to experience God’s multiplication in your life?
–What seeds has God given you to plant?