2 Corinthians 9- Walk The Walk

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For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 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 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: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. 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. 2 Corinthians 9:1-5

As we notice in the past couple Chapters, Paul spent alot of time dealing with managing money and accountability. In Paul’s instructions here it’s no different, however Paul is teaching the Church, if you are going to talk the talk, then you need to walk the walk. Meaning if we say we are going to do something, then we need to follow up and do it! Otherwise, we just look like liars and hypocrites. The Church promised to send a generous donation to the other Churches, and Paul was making sure they actually followed through

The reality is, money has become even more than a idol for most people, it has become their god. Most people base their entire lives around money, as if it can save your soul from Hell. Is money important? Well of course, we need to support our families and our ourselves, but do most people use this excuse to build the foundation of their lives upon money? I think yes, instead of building their lives upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, our chief cornerstone.

The Apostle Paul here is bragging about the Church and their eagerness for “Cheerful giving”  as Paul says “ I boast of you to them of Macedonian, that Achaia was ready a year ago” Paul is bragging about this Churches willingness and ability to financially support other Churches.  Being a Cheerful giver is not just obedience to Jesus Christ, but it also demonstrates the authenticity of faith to other believers. 

For example, there are many “mega-Churches” we see throughout America, they like to flash their large buildings and assets, however wouldn’t it be more impressive if these mega-Churches gave some of their money to the smaller Churches that are struggling to pay their mortgage? However we don’t see this in today’s Christianity, because instead of us all being the Body of Christ, we are divided , competing against each other like were in business, its a very carnal minded Christianity

Notice what Paul warns the Church “that, as I said, you may be ready; 4lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this”

Actions speak louder than words, its one thing for a Church to brag they are a “Cheerful giver” but its another thing to actually do it. And when the Church brags and fails to follow up, it loses the credibility of the Church. So Paul is preparing the hearts of the Church, Be ready to give because you promised you would!

As Jesus said “Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No” (Matthew 5:37) When the Church promises something, let their word be true because Christ is our Lord!  Be obedient to Christ in all things, including finances, because Jesus Christ is our Lord and Head of the Church, Amen!

2 Corinthians 8- All Eyes on Us

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Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. 2 Corinthians 8:20-24

As we continue to look at what Paul teaches us about being the Church, I think we can learn another valuable reason to remain in a local Church, its called accountability. One of the many reasons Christians need each other is to keep us all on the narrow path. When your alone, its easy to stray off the path, get tempted into sin, and then try to hide the sin from others. However as Paul is teaching the Church here “The eyes of The Lord are everywhere” (Proverbs 15:3)

Let’s see what Paul is saying here to the Church “Avoiding this, that noone should blame us in this abundance, which is administered by us, providing for honest things” Again this goes back to accountability. The Church is being tasked to handle large amounts of money which are going to support other Churches, including themselves. Often whenever there is large amounts of money, there is alot of temptation by many people to embezil it, anyone remember Judas? 

Now while not everyone is tempted with money, often many people are and can’t control themselves. Paul wants to make sure the Church is handling the money openly and honestly, so there is no question about their integrity. Often if you want to know if a group is a cult or false religion, all you have to do is follow the money trial. 

Notice what Paul says next “not only in the sight of The Lord, but also in the sight of men” God is watching everything the Church is doing! All these false prophets and cult groups that think they are getting away with stuff, are just storing up wrath of God for themselves, God will not be mocked! But as the Church , not only are the eyes of Jesus on us, but the eyes of the brethren are on us also! There is accountability with one another, as scripture tells us, if you see someone in your Church continually living in sin, you need to address it with them (Matthew 18:15, 1 John 5:16-17)

Paul ends by saying “Therefor show to them, and to the Churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf” One way we know if someone is a true Christian is by the testimony of other Christians that we trust and know. Sometimes you meet a new Christian, and your just not sure if they are a true convert, and you consult with other Christians who you trust and can give you an honest opinion. This is part of the Church structure, the accountability, the leadership with the Body of Christ. 

Regardless of your thoughts on the Church, Jesus Christ is the head of the Church, that is his bride and the gates of hell will never prevail against it. Nobody will ever be able to remove Christ Church because Christ eyes are on his Church and because you are the Church, Christs eyes are on you! Walk worthy of your calling by the Holy Spirit, Amen!

2 Corinthians 8- We Are The Church

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But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: 2 Corinthians 8:16-19

Again we see the Apostle Paul referring to Titus for his service and dedication to the Church. Now we hear the name the Apostle Paul alot, he wrote over half the New Testament, he was a vessel for Jesus Christ (Acts 9:15) However Paul was just one part of the Body of Christ, just as Titus is another part, and you are another part. It’s important to understand the “Church concept” that nobody does anything by themselves, we are all the Body of Christ and all Glory goes to God

We see Paul mentioning brother Titus to the Church “Thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you” Paul didn’t accomplish anything on his own accord, just as we don’t accomplish anything on our own accord. We need to reply upon each other as the body of Christ, and we need to rely upon the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. When you understand this is a group effort, then you understand the reason for the Church. We are all one in Jesus Christ our Lord!

Paul mentions another individual who is not even name “We have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the Churches” People who are driven by the flesh would want their name in lights, however those who are driven by the Holy Spirit, are looking to give God glory and not themselves. This brother was obviously highly respected by the Churches, yet it didn’t matter what his name was, because he was a servant of Christ!

We as Christians, as part of the Body of Christ, can learn from this. Do we need credit or glory for everything we do at Church? Everything we do is for the Glory of God and our Lord knows everything you have done. We don’t need the credit from men, we just need to be faithful in our calling to Love God and Love our Neighbor

Another point to make is , are you active in your local Church? The idea of being a “lone wolf” is not Biblical. How can you be part of the body of Christ, when you reject the rest of the body? None of the work done by the Church was possible without the group effort of the Church. If you want to know why you should belong to a local Church, its because you can’t fulfill your calling unless you are part of a Church, because you are the Church!

Working to build the Kingdom of God is an amazing calling and an overwhelming thought. Everything you do for God is for eternal purposes, one day we can look back with our fellow brothers and sisters and see what we have labored for , filled with the Holy Spirit and obedient to our Lord , Amen!

2 Corinthians 8- The Church

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For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. 2 Corinthians 8:13-15

What is the Church? Sounds like a simple question , but many might come up with different answers , the Greek word its usually translated from is “Ekklessia” which means called out assembly, in short the Church is the people, the Born Again believers in Christ

The pandemic I believe taught us alot about what the real Church is, as many buildings were closed, the Church still lived on. The Church is not a building, its the body of Christ, its you and me, our sisters and brothers in Christ. Wherever you are , there is the Church! With that said, we should physically gather whenever its possible, especially on The Lords Day!

So why belong to a Church? Because we are a family of God, we are all  brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, therefor we need to take care of one another as a family. That’s what the Apostle Paul is teaching the Church here “For I dont mean the others should be eased and you should be burdened, but by an equality” Paul is teaching the Churches to take care of one another, when one is in need the other will help them. Then when that Church is in need, then the other Church will help them

This is how a family operates, right? We all go through seasons of good and bad times, when we are going through a bad season, we need our family to help us out. And this doesn’t just mean financially, we need to help each other out spiritually and physically. Maybe somebody just needs someone to talk to or to just give them a ride somewhere, the body of Christ should be there for one another like a family

It’s interesting, Paul quotes the book of Exodus here “He who gathered much had nothing left over and he who gathered little had no lack” (Exodus 16:18) The Church who has an overabundance should share with the Church who is lacking. In the Kingdom of God, nobody is lacking because everyone takes care of one another! This should be the model of the Church, a family in Jesus Christ, Amen!

2 Corinthians 8- Count The Cost

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And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 2 Corinthians 8:10-12

Jesus tells us to “Count the Cost” of becoming a Christian. Jesus said “Which of you , wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if you have the resources to complete it” (Luke 14:28) Christ is not given us home improvement advice, he’s speaking metaphorically to our spiritual lives. If your going to be a disciple of Christ, first you must consider the cost of being a disciple of Christ, because it will cost you everything!

Now this ties into what Paul is teaching here , he’s instructing the Church to finish what they have started. This goes back to “Counting the Cost” of being a Christian. When you start a ministry or serve The Lord , you can’t bail half way through your work. I mean technically you can quit on God, but what does that say about you? What does it say about your faith in Christ? What does it say about all the work you already have done for The Lord?

When we accept a calling by God, we need to count the cost of what its going to take to complete it. And some might say, well its going to take forever to complete it, well there you go, its going to cost you your entire life, are you ready for this? Is your family prepared for this? Approaching ministry like project management is not always a bad idea, examine everything take make sure you are spiritually and physically ready to commit to your calling

Look at what Paul is saying to the Church here “Let me give you advice, it is to your advantage not only  to do what you have been doing, but now you must also complete the doing of it” Paul is saying “You guys are doing great work for The Lord, but its equally important that you finish your work for The Lord”

Did you ever hear the expression “Your only as good as your last” We see this in sports and careers, people have great success, however when their career comes to an end, people remember that one last time, that last failure, it can tarnish an entire career. There is no retirement age in the Kingdom of God, we need to keep working as if today is our first day on the job! Keep the fire burning for The Lord!

Paul also says “For if first there is a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not one does not have”  This reminds me of when Jesus fed the great multitude (Matthew 14) It’s easy for us to focus on what we don’t have to complete Gods calling in our life, but Christ wants us to give him what we do have! 

Count the cost, give your life to Jesus Christ and God will supply all your needs to complete the mission Amen! 

2 Corinthians 8- Rich in Christ?

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For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

I heard many people twist this verse “He was rich, yet for your sakes became poor” many false teachers will use this verse to promote or justify their prosperity gospel. As we know, Jesus didn’t own anything during this Earthly ministry as Jesus said “The Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20) Christ literally relied on God the Father for everything during his Earthly ministry to provide for him

So what does Paul mean by this statement “He was rich, yet for your sakes became poor” Well if you understand who Jesus Christ is, it makes perfect sense. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh (Isaiah 9:6, John 1:14) the Son of God, part of the Triune God, Christ is the eternal Creator of the world. So how did Jesus become poor? 

The Apostle Paul’s teaching in Philippians 2 gives us a deeper understanding, 

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:6-8

Jesus, who is God, lowered himself below the angels, to become a man, to die for the sins of His creation (Hebrews 2:7) Think about that, God becoming a human to save us from the wages of our sins. How much do you think God loves us? Well He demonstrated it on the cross (Romans 5:8) if there is any question whether God loves you or not, look at the cross, look at what Christ has done for you!

Through his (Christ) poverty (death on the cross), we might be rich (justified). The only reason we can be justified and inherit eternal life, it because Christ layed down his life for us on the cross, Christ became spiritually poor, and made us spiritually rich, by the gift of the Holy Spirit 

Let’s just meditate on this one verse today and understand what God has done for you, Christ humbled himself and became obedient to the death on the cross, for your sins! For my sins, for our sins, our sins put the Son of God on the cross! But the love God bestowed to us, that he was willing to become poor in spirit to deliver us from the wrath of our sins. 

When you understand , you understand why nothing else in this world matter except the gift of grace given to us by God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, Amen!