Whitehall Baptist Church
May 17th | Missions Month | 2 Corinthians 9:5-8

      • Hebrews 10:24–25KJV1900

      • Romans 15:13KJV1900

      • Psalm 145:3KJV1900

      • Psalm 145:5KJV1900

  • How Great Is The Greatness Of God

      • Psalm 8:3–4KJV1900

  • How Great Thou Art
  • His Mercy Is More

      • Isaiah 55:7KJV1900

  • Just As I Am (I Come Broken)

  • 2 CORINTHIANS 9:5-8 | GETTERS, GOERS, AND GIVERS

    EXPLANATION: Last time we discussed how Paul had written to the churches at Corinth and challenged them because they said they love God, they said they were stirred to help the churches in Judea.
    But a year had passed and they had not kept their promise to give and now Paul challenges them with some ways they could prove their love.
    He began back at the beginning of Chapter 8 giving the example of the churches at Macedonia.
    He shared how they gave by faith, sacrificially so the Gospel could continue to go forward in Judea.
    He told that the key to their giving was that before they gave a penny, they first put their own lives in the offering plate and gave themselves to the Lord.
    Now Paul continues by challenging the church at Corinth with some other proofs of their love.
    In verse 5 he lets them know that before he was to arrive at Corinth, they should offer their “bounty” or blessing they had promised.
    Then he goes into verse 6 and he begins by giving them an agricultural illustration:
    Give sparingly = Reap sparingly,
    Give bountifully = Reap bountifully.
    This is a simple thought, If you plant one seed, you will most likely reap one plant with fruit
    If you plant two seeds, you will probably reap a couple plants with various amounts of fruit.
    As you plant more and more seed, your fruit will increase!
    If you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully!

    V.6, PAUL’S CHALLENGE

    EXPLANATION: His challenge to them from v.6 was a two-fold challenge:
    2 Corinthians 9:6 KJV 1900
    But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
    SOW PERSONALLY
    ILLUSTRATION: I’m a “figure outer” and “communicator”
    That means I figure out how to do things and then I communicate how to do things.
    Case and point, when we were in Florida on the beach, the kids had boogie boards.
    So I was instructing to Jayce how to use the boogie board.
    How to catch the wave just right to be able to ride it in, and not get rolled in the wave.
    But then he offered my the boogie board so that I could show him through demonstration how to do it.
    But that wasn’t part of the deal… I’m a figure outer and communicator.
    But after much prodding and prying to get me to take that board out and ride the waves.
    Finally… Tressa took the other board that we had and went out and did it.
    APPLICATION: In so many areas of life we like to figure out how to do things and then tell other people how to do it.
    But when it comes to sowing the seeds of the Gospel… we can’t just be someone that stands on the sidelines instructing.
    We have to get involved with the work ourselves!
    Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900
    And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
    It is the responsibility of every person to take the Gospel to this lost and dying world!
    And here, Paul challenges those in Corinth to not just talk about the Gospel, but get busy taking the Gospel!
    To sow personally!
    GIVE SO OTHERS CAN SOW
    Not only did Paul challenge them to go personally, but he challenged them to give financially so others could go when they couldn’t
    And Paul makes things very clear, the more money that was given, the more people would hear the Gospel
    The more people that would hear the Gospel, the more fruit would abound to the givers account.
    When Paul was writing to the believers in Philippi, he said it this way: Philippians 4:14-17
    Philippians 4:14–17 KJV 1900
    Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 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. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
    They had given to meet his needs, so he could take the Gospel to others, and so doing, Paul says that there was fruit that abounded to their account.
    ILLUSTRATION: How does that work?
    I need three helpers to show this:
    Giver (wohoo!)
    2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV 1900
    Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
    Goer (I’m outta here)
    Getter (Thank you)
    When the Giver gives, the Goer is able to go, and the Getter is able to hear the Gospel
    When the Getter receives the Gospel, all three of them receive a blessing:
    Getter - He gets eternal life
    Goer - He gets fruit that abounds when he sees him accept Jesus
    Giver - Fruit in heaven
    APPLICATION: Now, I want to remind you of something this morning, because it becomes so easy for some to forget:
    Every Christian starts out as a Getter!
    Every Christian is fruit on someone else’s account
    You’re like the turtle on the fence post… somebody had a part in getting you there!
    There was a Sunday School teacher
    There was a parent
    There was a sister or brother
    There was a grandparent
    There was a pastor
    There was a radio preacher
    There was a gospel invitation
    Every person was introduced to Jesus some way!
    If I asked you who introduced you to Jesus, would you be able to say?
    For me it was parents who loved God and took me to church.
    It was a pastor named Ransom Covington who preached week after week at a small country church in Indiana.
    It was a preacher at a youth camp who ultimately preached the Gospel and I went forward to an altar where my dad met me and led me to Christ.
    The trail of those who sowed into my life is long and could keep on going with the people who sowed into my life!
    Who was it that sowed the word of God in your life that made you a Getter?
    Paul challenged those in Corinth to remember that they were a Getter!

    V.7, PAUL’S WARNING

    EXPLANATION: Now don’t miss what Paul says in v.7
    2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV 1900
    Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
    He says “every man” which means every person who had been a Getter can get involved!
    But here is the key, “As he purposeth in his heart”
    The word “purposeth” means “predetermined”
    Before the money was in the account
    Before the blessing had arrived
    The decision was already made that they were going to honor God and worship God with what they were given!
    It’s a decision born out of a worshipful heart toward God
    They purposed, by faith, that what God gave to them, already belonged to God!
    But friend, Paul was dealing with the same thing that we struggle with today.
    And it is a warning for each of us to evaluate our lives through…
    Because a lot of the Getter, never purpose to become Goers and they never purpose to become Givers.
    And when that happens, you fall into another category… you become a Taker (It’s mine)
    It’s a position founded in a transactional relationship with God.
    Depending on what God does for me, will determine what I do for Him.
    And they may still give… but when they do it’s from a grudging heart
    Because they feel they have to give out of necessity
    How does that happen?
    ILLUSTRATION: On June 6, 1944, American forces landed on the beach of Normandy.
    On that one day, approximately 2,500 young men’s lives came to an end on that beach.
    Over the course of the war, it is estimated somewhere between 419,000-420,000 American soldiers gave their lives to defeat the enemy.
    And that’s from one war that America was involved in.
    To count the total number of deaths throughout the history of America would total in the millions.
    And yet, we have people living in America today who believe America is a bad place.
    They believe this is a place of oppression and inequality.
    And while there are unquestionably pockets of those things, just like there have been all throughout history in every nation, the United States is still the greatest country on earth!
    Millions have given their lives so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.
    But for so many, they’ve forgotten the price that was paid for them.
    EXPLANATION: How does a person go from being a Getter of the greatest gift that they could never deserve, to becoming a Taker?
    2 Peter 1:9 KJV 1900
    But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
    They Bible says they’ve forgotten what they were cleansed from.
    Friend, no person deserves one once of God’s grace and mercy.
    And yet Jesus died on that cross to pay for your sins, because God loved you.
    Romans 5:8 KJV 1900
    But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
    John 3:16 KJV 1900
    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
    It is God’s love that gives anyone the hope of eternal life.
    Titus 3:5 KJV 1900
    Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
    APPLICATION: And yet, so many live like the gift you have been given was deserved!
    So many live like God owed you eternal life.
    Now you would never say that with your lips… but do the actions of your life say “thank you” to the God Who gave you everything?
    Friend, this is so about so much more than money… this is about your life!
    Remember last time as we talked about the need to put your life in the offering plate?
    Your life is a gift from God… and what you do with your life is your ‘thank you’ back to Him!
    Are you living like you have forgotten the sacrifice Christ made for you?
    Are you living like a taker this morning?
    Paul warns these Corinthian believers, what you purpose to do with and through your life speaks volumes of whether you are simply a Getter… or if you will become a Goer and a Giver for Him!

    V.8, PAUL’S REMINDER

    2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV 1900
    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:
    EXPLANATION: Now, if you’ve missed the rest of the message, don’t miss this last part…
    Who is it that is responsible to provide as we purpose to be a Giver and a Goer?
    God!
    “God is able!”
    ILLUSTRATION: Trying to run a drill without the battery plugged in.
    If you think you are going to do something on your own… you might accomplishing a little something… But on your own you eventually run out of your strength, your ability.
    But God is Able!
    He is the power behind our ability to give!
    EXPLANATION: Paul reminds these Corinthian believers that the power behind their ability didn’t come from themselves!
    Yes, they would have a part in it because they gave and because they went… but it was God that was the power source!
    Because God is able!
    APPLICATION: When it comes to this area of Going and Giving for the Lord, it can be easy to fall into a place of asking, “How can I do that?”
    I’ve got bills to pay, food to buy, gas prices are through the roof… and I’m supposed to give my time and my finances… how can I do that!
    The answer is, you can’t… but God is able!
    Ephesians 3:20 KJV 1900
    Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
    Philippians 4:10–13 KJV 1900
    But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
    Paul was saying, I know what it is like to go without
    I know what it feels like to be hungry and not know where the next meal is coming from
    I know what it feels like to be in need
    I know what it feels like to have the world crash around you
    But through it all I have discovered, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me
    My friend, GOD IS ABLE!
    ILLUSTRATION: When it comes to this thing of missions, will you commit to the Lord to give?
    Will you trust by faith that God is able to take care of you!
    Friend I cannot tell you how many times since we started giving to Faith Promise, that we didn’t know where the money was going to come from and then there was a check in the mailbox
    Or there was some money given to us
    Or God took care of something we thought we were going to have to pay for
    Sometimes He doesn’t just give you what you need, no, He makes all grace abound toward you!
    There is no greater life than to live by faith, knowing you are doing what God would have you to do!
    In this chaotic world, God is still in control, and God is still able!
    APPLICATION: Listen to what God tells us in Proverbs 3:5-10
    Proverbs 3:5–10 KJV 1900
    Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones. Honour the Lord with thy substance, And with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
    God says, when we trust Him… and we demonstrate our trust by giving our first fruits to Him… He is able to bless you!
    Friend, do you trust Him this morning?
    Have you been a Getter?
    Is there a time in your life that you stopped trusting in what you could do to get to heaven, and you put your faith and trust in what God says from His Word?
    Are you a Goer?
    The truth is, it’s every Christians responsibility to be a Goer within their world
    Are you a Giver?
    What an opportunity God gives us to be a part of the greatest mission on earth and eternity!
    Have you fallen into the hole of being simply a Taker…
    Have you forgotten the great sacrifice Jesus made for you?
    Today would be a good day to be reminded!
    Let’s decide today to trust God, and get busy taking the Gospel to our world!

      • 2 Corinthians 9:6KJV1900

      • Matthew 28:18–20KJV1900

      • Philippians 4:14–17KJV1900

      • 2 Corinthians 9:7KJV1900

      • 2 Corinthians 9:7KJV1900

      • 2 Peter 1:9KJV1900

      • Romans 5:8KJV1900

      • John 3:16KJV1900

      • Titus 3:5KJV1900

      • 2 Corinthians 9:8KJV1900

      • Ephesians 3:20KJV1900

      • Philippians 4:10–13KJV1900

      • Proverbs 3:5–10KJV1900

Whitehall Baptist Church
whitehallbcmt@gmail.com
406.285.1003
http://wbcmt.org
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