“His Unspeakable Gift” (2 Cor 9:8-10:5)

 “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.  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. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (vs12-15)

GIVING

God is servant to His creation, ministering to us food and gladness, and giving His church gifts of grace (Acts 14:15-17).  Now, you serve also, learning the grace of life.  He will give you grace to be gracious, to give financially, and in doing this, you will help others survive and increase their thankfulness to God.  You will manifest your love to Christ - “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:  (As it is written, ‘He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remains forever.’  (vs8-9)

The gospel isn’t selfish, but it changes us to God’s character, and His unspeakable gift is that sinners who are selfish and concerned for our own will be TRANSFORMED into saints who care for others sacrificially and willingly. We believe all we have in Christ, and thus we FREELY give- “Now He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,  while you are enriched in everything for all cheerful giving, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.” (vs10-11)

MEEKNESS AND GENTLENESS

The gospel tactic is love, meekness, and gentleness. We don’t get people to obey God in the flesh, but in the Spirit. We MINISTER unto them, patiently bearing with their failures, so that they can be saved. God WORKS by faith - belief of the gospel - and love - belief of the gospel in handling others - “Now Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am courageous toward you: but I plead with you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence wherewith I reckon to be daring against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh” (2 Cor 10:1-2).

This meekness isn’t cowardice or compromise. He BOLDLY tells the truth of God, drawing a line in the sand, and then standing in love to minister to all that he is able.

Which way will you turn to change your neighbor? Will you try anger, pride, bitterness, and wrath? Or will you use the meekness of the gospel and wait on God - “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)”, man’s refuge of lies, “casting down human thoughts, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every mind to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:3-5).

We are OF God now, so we use His tactics, giving and serving others patiently.