Let’s Speak About the Unspeakable Gift
Today’s Reading – Jude 1, Revelation 1 – 3
I have decided this morning to break from tradition by not writing a devotion on the day’s reading. Instead, I will be giving you the outline from this morning’s message that will be preached (the Lord willing) at Jersey Shore Baptist Church. I am doing this because of the snow storm that has already started, and is supposed to blanket our area with more than a foot of snow. We will still hold church services this morning for the hearty souls who will make it out; but for those of you who could not travel to the church in this weather, you can still participate in the service and message.
Text – 2 Corinthians 9; Text Verses – 2 Corinthians 8:9; 9:7 & 8; 9:15
Today is the day after Christmas. This is the day when we often think about the presents we received yesterday. This is also the day that some of us will begin to write a note of thanks to those who gave us the gifts. In our text this morning, Paul is speaking to this Corinthian Church about giving, but he is careful to remind them that giving begins and ends with the “unspeakable” gift, which is the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Introduction – Review 2 Corinthians 9
God gave us His Son. He is the “unspeakable” gift mentioned in verse 15. (John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8 & 9)
I Reflect Upon the Gift
A His Person – this is Who He Is – His Attributes – omniscience, omnipotence, infinite love, etc.
As I said before, Christ is the gift, but with the gift comes many extras. Have you ever gotten any Christmas presents that came with extras? Did you ever open the extras first, perhaps by mistake? I remember one time I opened an 8-track tape of “The Platters”. It was a gift from my dad. (I often wondered if he got it for me or for himself.)However, I thought it was strange because I did not own an 8 track tape player. Guess what was the next gift I opened?
B His Propitiation – His Blood Atonement for our sins which provided both grace and mercy.
C His Presence – “[He] will never leave thee nor forsake thee…” (Hebrews 13:5); “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20); “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18)
D His Presents – The Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5); The Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12)
E His Provision – 2 Corinthians 9:8; Matthew 6:33
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19)
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalms 37:4)
F His Purpose – He has a plan for my life and yours too?
II Rehearse the Gift to God and to Others
Reflection begins with thinking and begets thanksgiving (Psalm 100). Tell others about the “unspeakable” gift. Speak about the indescribable gift.
A Thank God – Spend some time in prayer worshipping Him for who He is, and praising Him for what He has done.
B Thank the People that God has used. (Luke 6:38) – God uses people to be a blessing. Luke 6:38 says that men shall give into your bosom. God works in the hearts of people (even unsaved people) to be a blessing to you. Be sure, though, to tell them that you not only thank them, but that you thank God for them.
III Reciprocate the Gift
Give back to God and to others. Learn to be a giving person.
I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)
A Give to God’s Purpose – The Great Commission through the local church
B Give to God’s People – Look for ways to give back to God by helping to meet the needs of His children. Remember, God loveth a cheerful giver!
Well, What did you get for Christmas yesterday? If you are saved, you got Jesus, and with Jesus you got it all.
Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from 2 Corinthians by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
Without Wax
Today’s Passage – 2 Corinthians 6 – 10
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. (2 Corinthians 8:8)
Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. (2 Corinthians 8:24)
Tradition states that back in the days of the Roman Empire there were unscrupulous stoneworkers who crafted sculptures, but would sometimes cover the flaws and cracks in their work with wax. However, when the hot sun would beat upon their products, it would melt the wax and ruin the appearance of the sculpture. Potters also were guilty of sealing cracked and even broken wares with wax in order to sell them at the market, but when the unsuspecting buyer returned home and put something hot in the the pot, plate, or cup, it would also melt the wax. Eventually, men of character who traded these goods would stamp their wares “sine cera” meaning without wax. These two words eventually evolved into meaning “genuine” or “honest”.
In our text Paul states very candidly that we prove the sincerity or the genuineness of our love through the grace of giving. If you love someone you will give to them. If you love God, you will give back to Him. You may have heard this old saying that bears repeating here: “You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.” Do you genuinely and honestly love the Lord, then give to Him. You may say, how do I do that? Well for starters I would strongly recommend that you give to work of His local church. God has chosen the local church as the vehicle for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. But then beyond that, you may want to give to some things that you believe in. At our church, we are always taking up special offerings for various causes and people that have a need. Learn to give. God is a giver, not a taker. People who are yielded to God will be like Him and will also have a giving spirit about them.
Giving not only proves the genuineness of your love, but it also demonstrates the sincerity of your faith. If you say that you believe God, than believe what He says about giving:
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38)
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)
God promises to bless those who give back to Him. Notice that I said “give back”, because everything we have was given to us by Him in the first place. You can trust God with your money. Don’t get greedy. God loves to bless His children, but He cannot bless a child that doesn’t listen to Him.
Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from 2 Corinthians by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
What’s New About You?
Today’s Passage – 2 Corinthians 1 – 5
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I just want to share some quick thoughts from the Word this morning, as we are busy preparing for the Lord’s Day.
The verse above expresses one of the most fundamental truths of the Christian life. I have heard all of the arguments on both sides regarding whether a person is truly saved. Many Christians believe that God has called them to be fruit inspectors; examining the lives of their brothers and sisters in Christ to see whether they have genuine faith or not. I don’t believe God has called me to be a fruit inspector as much as He has called me to be a sower of seed (the Word of God). However, we must never forget that anyone who has the Holy Spirit of God indwelling them is a new creature. He is not the same as we was before salvation. Now he might not be as spiritual as we may think he ought to be, but he is different.
I believe the difference can be seen in these three areas.
1 There will be a desire to saturate in things of God. I can’t speak necessarily for everyone, but I know what happened to me when I trusted Christ as my Saviour. I had a craving for God’s Word, God’s People, and God’s House which was never a part of my life before.
2 There will be a desire to separate from the things of this world. Now this will increase as the believer matures, but even as a babe in Christ there will be a new understanding that the Holy Spirit within is in conflict with the world system and philosophy without.
3 There will also be a desire to share Christ with others. A little further along in our text, the Bible says that we are ambassadors for Christ; we are His representatives here on the earth.
Let us examine ourselves (not others). Are these three ingredients part of your life. I am not trying to get you to doubt your salvation, and I know that we all struggle and fall short in all of these areas; but is the desire in you in these three areas. God has cataclysmically transformed my life since I have been saved; and He is still transforming me. He renews me day by day, molding me into His image. If you are His child, He is also doing the same to you.
Posted in Thoughts from 2 Corinthians by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.