Increasing Joy in Worship through Giving
Oct. 31, 2013
If you will just stand. Let's pray and I'd like to read some Scripture. If you have a Bible. If you would turn to Second Corinthians chapter 9. I'm going to actually begin in the prior chapter the last verse, Second Corinthians Chapter 8 verse 24.
"Or foreshow ye to them, And before the churches the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf. For as touching them 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 has provoked very many yet have I sent the Brethren lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this be half that as I said you may be ready, less happily 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 you unto you and make-up beforehand your bounty whereof you had noticed before that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty and not of covetousness.
But this I say 'he which soweth sparingly show reap also sparingly and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.' Every man according as he purposes in his heart so let him give, not grudgingly or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver, and God is able to make all grace abound toward you that ye always having all sufficiency and all things may abound to every good work as it is written. 'He hath dispersed abroad, He hath given to the poor, His righteousness remaineth forever'. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food and multiply your seeds sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness being enriched in everything to all bountifulness which causes through us thanksgiving to God for the administration of the service not only supplieth the want of the Saints but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God, while by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection under the gospel of Christ and for your liberal distribution unto them and unto all men and by prayer for you which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift".
Would you pray with me? "Father would you open this text to us this morning. I pray that you would come, that you would send your Holy