Generosity – God provides

Reading: 2 Corinthians 9

I’m going to be politically incorrect this morning

talk about generosity – especially generosity in regard to money

2 Corinthians 9 …

“You will be prospered in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and … your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” 2 Corinthians 9:11

Thriving Christians give out of gratitude,

(not out of guilt )

2Corinthians 9:12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

Rosi and I give because we are grateful to the Lord for all he has done

The Bible indicates, on almost every time giving is mentioned, that we give because we’re grateful to God – not because I’m guilty about not giving

At VBC we have a Thanksgiving day

we set aside to give special gifts to a special project (sometimes inside the church sometimes outside) in order to say ‘Thank you’ to the Lord.

a Thriving Christian gives willingly

(not grudgingly)

2 places where this is highlighted

2 Cor 9:2 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.

Eagerness>>>

there was no stopping them!

7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Cheerfulness

Gk ‘hilarion’ from which we derive ‘hilarious’
Why can I be so cheerful about it?
because my giving can have repercussions far greater than the financial value of the gift.

These verses tell us that giving is as much as matter of attitude as it is amount

When we give cheerfully and eagerly – we so often see how the Lord blesses us in return

Jesus was watching the people giving in the temple one day.

the lady who got his gold medal for giving was a lady who gave 2p.
story >>>

givers will also be receivers

6. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Simple Picture

farmer going out to sow seed
the more he sows, the more return he can potentially get!

There have been times when Rosi and I have given, knowing that we could scarcely afford it, and been amazed to see God’s provision in return.

either in money or in goods or time or an unexpected encounter with God some other way
But beware! This does happen sometimes, but it should never be our motive!
to give 10% in order to get back 20% runs counter to the whole message of the Bible!

All we have is out of God’s grace

V8 >>>

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work

Everything we have is out of God’s grace

not just financially, but relationally, emotionally, spiritually!
It’s all out of Grace! God’s OTT generosity!

It’s not like Bart Simpson and his grace “Lord we’ve paid for all this so thanks for nothing”

Spiritual investment principles

cover our obligations

The Bible indicates what some of those obligations are

We must care for our families

Paul – giving instructions to Timothy

1Timothy 5:8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Support those to teach the Word of God

I hardly need to speak to you on this because you do it already! God knows that

I believe that one reason why he blesses us so much as a church

When Jesus sent out his disciples he allowed them to receive material and financial support for the people they were ministering to

Matthew 10:10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker (in this case the apostles doing the work of ministry) is worth his keep (or wages)

help the needy in the church

The whole chapter (2Cor 9) was written because these Christians wanted to help their poor members.

v12 it is ‘supplying the needs of God’s people’

Fellowship Fund

our giving enables wonderful things to happen

I heard a pastor speak from a large church that had just announced that their mission target was about £450,000

This pastor had just discovered that in one part of the third world where basic housing was needed
He’s also discovered you could build a small house from local materials for about £1500
At that moment someone on the finance team of the church called out to him “You’ve got the decimal point in the wrong place – it’s actually £150 (= $300)
with wonder on his face “We could build a city!”

I want to read to you one of the big promises of the Bible

Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

To tithe is to give 1/10 of your income to the Lord

It’s a promise that, if you’ve used it, you may well have remarkable stories of how God has fulfilled it

but some of us dislike that verse because it seems unrealistic

(We don’t make it a condition of membership and nobody will ever ask you about you it!)

We encourage giving to be proportionate and affordable – and to be laced with faith!

I encourage you to put God to the test in this area!

Resourcing the vision

If these are not compelling reasons to be generous, there is one more I want to share with you –

The overarching purpose of Victoria Baptist Church is the spiritual transformation of people so they become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ

That’s what we live and die for!

So whatever your age or background we would love you to be part of this vision.

God has called us to build a growing, regional, biblically based church in Eastbourne, which will use its creativity and enthusiasm to worship God and

communicate the gospel in relevant ways,
with compassion and generosity.

We value variety and you only have to look around to see that Victoria is a place where all are welcome:

whether you’re curious about faith or convinced,
whether disillusioned or searching,
hurting or content with life.

And our strategy is to provide somewhere in our ministry line-up for people at each stage of their spiritual journey to get connected and grow more like Jesus

So,

Think of evangelism like traffic lights

Green – easily accessible, friendly, attractive events (and people!). Where people can just get used to being around with Christians or being inside tis building.
Amber – structures or events where there is a spiritual, Christian content. Jesus is clearly on the agenda – we may not be asking people for
Red – where people have a clear opportunity to respond to the claims of Jesus

That’s why we do things like “faith in the fog.” – another coming up in January

Christianity explored & Alpha >>>

to help mature believers – Worship – Teaching – Prayer

I have an increasing burden about our prayer life. Came out at SG leaders mtg yesterday morning

We need

Everybody to pray – Pray for the realisation of our vision
Everybody to get involved – task of service & a small community

We have a fantastically committed staff team, but they cant do it all!

Practically

Usually ask you to go to prayer zone, that’s true too, but look in weekly bulletin.

>>>

you’re not joining with us in giving to God’s work
you’re already resourcing the vision and the ministry but haven’t updated it this year
All the info is there.

Back to 1 Cor 9:12

This service you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thankfulness to God!”

The generosity of God’s people to God’s work and to others caused thankfulness to ‘well up’ in the church and in the wider community!

We have resourced this building.
Money spent on keeping our building fit for purpose is never money wasted
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve said to someone who knows nothing about Victoria “All of this was put up by the members of the church” They are … flabbergasted!
Your generosity provokes amazement and gratitude.

Finish with an example:

Acts 4

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one hung on possessively to their possessions but they shared everything they had.

What happened?

33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there was no needy person among them.

From time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to the most needy among them

Here’s the example.

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus,… 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

I didn’t read the whole of the verse

… whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’),

His generosity was a mighty encouragement to the church and bolstered the cause of Christ.

Prayer

Lord Jesus

What I have belongs to you and I ask you to help me be a good steward of all that is yours and joyfully share what you ask me to share and give what you ask me to give. In humble obedience and joyful praise. Amen