"WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE DO BAD THINGS"
TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 7:2-13
INTRODUCTION
In the movie Mr. Mom a business executive loses his job and stays home to take care of the house, and his wife goes back to work. He doesn’t do to well.
There is one scene in the Movie when Mr. Mom is dropping his kids off at school, and he is told by a lady that he is to enter from the North and exit from the south. Well, He broke the sacred rule for dropping off his kids AND went the wrong way -- and all of the mothers were beeping and yelling at him.
This week I found out what it was like to be a victim of such wrath. I was dropping John off at school and when I was leaving -- I went out the wrong way. I didn’t mean to, I meant no harm, BUT the lady in the jeep didn’t see it that way.... With hair standing on end, her body half out her window, with fire in her eyes --- she roared at me "WRONG WAY!!!!" If she would have had a gun she would have killed me.... I had committed the unpardonable sin in her eyes -- I was going the wrong way.
I didn’t do it on purpose, I didn’t plan on going the wrong way -- I was trying to do right, But I messed up.
Fellow Christians, as we strive to live the Christian life, as we try to stay on the straight and narrow -- it is inevitable that at some time or another we will fall, -- we will leave the path, that we ought to be on... We will be found heading in the wrong direction, We will fall short of the glory of God .. We will sin!
Even though we concentrate intently and try to do right, many times we find ourselves standing on the wrong side of the fence. None of us are perfect -- John says in his first letter, "THAT IF ANYONE SAYS HE DOES NOT SIN, HE IS A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM."
We sin, when we do things that God says are wrong (such things as: put anything before God, sexual immorality, envy, bitterness, unforgivenss, gossip, lying, drunkenness ...etc)
And we also sin when, we do not do what God says we should (You See, Christianity is much more a relationship of the Do’s then merely a religion of the Don’ts) If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you know of many things that God tells us to do... such as : give him you best, serve in the church, love another, encourage one another, study His Word to show yourself approved, share his Gospel, be active in the body of believers (not forsaking the gathering together of the saints)....etc ....etc ... etc, When we don’t do the good we ought to do we sin....
Everyone of us here (no exception, none of us is perfect) is, has, or will be, standing on the wrong side of sin (by doing what we should not or by not doing what we should)... And when that happens, what are God’s people supposed to do, what are we to do, what are you to -- "WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE DO BAD THINGS."
The answer depends on which side of the fence you are on at the time. Today, as we look at our text II Corinthians 7:2-13, we will discover what it is, that we need to do. We will see that there is not only something the fallen need to do, but that there is something the faithful also need to do.
We will see that the "Faithful", those who at that particular time are still walking in the light, those who are still on the straight and narrow -- must respond in a certain way to the sins of the falling. We will talk about what we, (THAT’S YOU AND I) are to do when we see a brother or sister falling away from the Lord as they allow themselves to be pulled in by the currents of sin.
AND WE WILL ALSO see, as we allow God’s Word to dramatically display the 2 Kinds of sorrow that an individual can have towards their sin -- that there is only one proper response, to our personal sin.... "GODLY SORROW."
[2 CORINTHIAN 7:2-13]
I. WHEN THE "FAITHFUL" SEE A BROTHER FALLING INTO SIN -- THE FAITHFUL WILL RESPOND IN THREE WAYS.
If we are, faithful, we will respond, the way God wants us to, and GOD wants us to respond with concern, commitment and courage....
Paul is writing to the Church in Corinth. Did the Church in Corinth have a problem with sin? You mean a Church whose first preacher was the apostle Paul, a church where there were supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit, as God Spirit moved in a mighty way throughout the body (healing, prophecy and gift of languages) -- a church where many of the people had a lot of money.... You mean a church like that had a problem with sin? You bet they did.
In I Corinthians we find Paul confronting directly the many sins with the church: idolatry, fornication, drunkenness, homosexuality, robbery, greed, slander, brother suing brother in pagan courts, misuse of the gifts of the Spirit, and the list goes on). The Church in Corinth had without a doubt fallen, they had left the narrow way, and were walking their own way, heading in the wrong direction....
How is Paul going to respond to this sin:
The way Paul responds provides a guideline for our response when we see a brother falling.
B. PAUL RESPONDED WITH CONCERN
Put your self in Paul’s sandals (he was a size 10 1/2 I think) Here is a church that he had established, a church where he spend 18 months working with, a church to whom he had written four letters to and had already made 2 return visits too. A church that had brought him as he himself says in chapter 2, "GREAT DISTRESS AND ANGUISH OF HEART AND MANY TEARS." AND IN THIS CHAPTER, "NO REST AND FEAR WITHIN". Paul gave every thing he had to the Corinthians, and yet when he looked at them, when he looked at the fruit of his labors, in many ways they were as worldly as ever... I think most of us if we were in Paul shoes, if we didn’t do it, we would at least be tempted, to just write those jokers off... close the door and shut the book, on our dealings with such a stubborn and sinful people...move on to greener pasture.
BUT Paul didn’t do that did he? Paul did not shut the door but rather opened it even further.
Paul says in verse 3, "I HAVE SAID BEFORE YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HEARTS."
And because they had a special place in his heart Paul couldn’t give up on them, he couldn’t turn and look the other way ...because he knew that their sin was putting into serious jeopardy their relationship to God. They couldn’t continue traveling down on this downward spiral -- because it very well may cost them their salvation....they may not inherit the Kingdom of heaven as Paul says in I Corinthians 6.
WHEN WE SEE A BROTHER OR SISTER FALL, WHEN WE SEE THEM SLIP INTO SIN (BEING EATING BY THE ALLURE OF IMMORALITY, THE CANCER OF UNFORGIVENESS) -- OR IF WE LOOK AROUND AND DO NOT SEE THEM IN CHURCH (A POSSIBLE SIGN THAT THEIR SPIRITUAL IS GOING DOWN THE TUBES). ARE WE CONCERNED -- are we concerned ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD, ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR WALK WITH THE LORD, THAT THEIR SALVATION MAY BE IN JEOPARDY -- WE SHOULD BE, THAT IS "IF THEY HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HEARTS."
B. WE ALSO SEE PAUL RESPONDING WITH COMMITMENT
Look at what Paul says in verse 3, "WE WOULD LIVE OR DIE WITH YOU."
Paul was committed to them....
He knew that in personal relationships things are not always going to be great... they’re not always perfect... it’s not always smooth sailing -- is it??
But Paul had made a commitment to them, AND he was not about to bail out the first time the waters got choppy, rather he would stay with them "through thick or thin"; "for better or worse" (and with the Corinthians it had been a lot of worse) Paul would live or die with them -- he was with them for the duration -- to the end. They were as he was -- members of the same body, "The Body of Christ." Do we have that kind of commitment to each other?
C. BECAUSE PAUL WAS COMMITTED TO HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, BECAUSE HE WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEM HE WAS ABLE TO ALSO RESPOND WITH COURAGE
HOW DID PAUL SHOW COURAGE?
PAUL SHOWED COURAGE BY WRITING THEM A LETTER -- BY CONFRONTING THEIR SIN -- BY CALLING FOR THEM TO TURN BACK TO THE LORD... BACK TO THE TRUTH.
And why did this take courage -- because he did not have a guarantee of how they would receive his letter, They may have become defensive and responded with anger and hatred...
In like manner it takes courage on our part to confront someone with their sin... They too may become defensive and respond with anger and hatred... But if we are committed to them, if they have "a special place in our hearts" and if we are concerned about them -- we will act with courage and confront their sin in love (sometimes love is tough).
But love does not just sit back and watch a brother slip further and further away form the Lord ("boy look at them go") The fallen may not like it but we need to try,, and once we do the choice is theirs, the ball is their court they have to run with it... They need to respond in the proper way.
CONCERN -- COMMITMENT -- AND COURAGE, THAT’S WHAT THE FAITHFUL WILL DO...
II. THE FALLEN WILL ENCOUNTER SORROW... [2 Cor 7:8-10]
As we look at 2 types of sorrow, Godly and Worldly, we will look at the lives of 2 men, who illustrate the right and the wrong way of responding to personal sin...
A. JUDAS
While Jesus was climbing up the hill of Calvary, He was climbing another hill the hill of regret. He walked it alone. It’s trail was full of jagged rocks of shame and hurt. It’s landscape was as barren as his soul. Thorns of remorse tore relentlessly at hi ankles and calves. The lips that had once kissed a king were now dried and crack full of grief. And on his shoulders he carried a burden of guilt -- that was forcing him to his knees.
"WHEN JUDAS, WHO HAD BETRAYED HIM, SAW THAT JESUS WAS CONDEMNED, HE WAS SEIZED WITH REMORSE AND RETURNED THE 30 PIECES OF SILVER TO THE CHIEF PRIEST AND THE ELDERS. "I HAVE SINNED," HE SAID, "FOR I HAVE BETRAYED INNOCENT BLOOD."
"WHAT IS THAT TO US?" THEY REPLIED. "THAT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY." SO JUDAS THREW THE MONEY INTO THE TEMPLE AND LEFT. THEN HE WENT AWAY AND HANGED HIMSELF."
Why Judas betrayed Jesus is really not important -- whether motivated by anger or greed -- the end result was the same regret and ruin...
Paul says in our text, "WORLDLY SORROW LEADS TO DEATH."
Worldly sorrow is fatal and it leads to death. Worldly sorrow is
simply guilt over the consequence of sin, and it may be awakened by loss of friends, health, possessions, power, or self respect. When people experience worldly sorrow there is indeed pain. But there is no sense of a wrong done. They dislike the pain but it does not drive them to seek forgiveness from God. They don’t deal with the real problem -- their sin -- they just deal with the symptoms, and then only after they get caught and others are made aware of their actions.
For example an individual may be cruising down the interstate at an excessive speed -- not really thinking about it -- doesn’t really feel bad about what he is doing. But then as he looks in his rear view mirror and sees the blue lights flashing -- he will hit his brakes and he may begin to feel sorry for what he was doing. And when his insurance rates go up and he pays a $100 fine he may feel remorse and regret because of the pain of the consequences. But he is not dealing with the root of the problem .. sin.
Worldly sorrow leads nowhere but spiritual death. The man who hates his sin not because it is an offense against God but because of the pain it brings him, has not experienced the Godly sorrow that leads to repentance.
How do we know Judas did not repent?
Because True repentance takes the sinner to the Lord and not away from him... Judas ran from the Lord and took his life -- what a tragedy, he didn’t have too.
"IMAGINE IF JUDAS HAD JUST HELD ON UNTIL AFTER THE RESURRECTION. AND HE’D REPENTED...PICTURE JESUS ON THE SHORE OF THE SEA OF GALLIEE. THE DISCIPLES ARE OUT FISHING. Jesus CALLS OUT, "HAVE YOU CAUGHT ANY FISH?" AND IMAGINE 100 YARDS DOWN THE SHORE, HEAD IN HANDS, IS JUDAS. HE COULDN’T FISH WITH THE DISCIPLES. THEY’D HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM. BUT AS JUDAS LOOKS UP HE SEES JESUS WALKING IN THE EARLY MORNING DAWN. HE Trudges THROUGH THE SAND, FALLS AT THE FEET OF JESUS AND SAYS, "I’M SORRY. I’M SORRY." THEN JESUS SAID, "YOUR FORGIVEN JUDAS GET UP. WIPE YOUR TEARS AWAY, I WANT US TO TAKE THE GOSPEL TO THE WHOLE WORLD AND I WANT YOU TO BE THE CHIEF FINACIAL OFFEICER." THAT’S THE WAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN IF HE JUST HELD ON, IF HAD JUST SWALLOWED HIS PRIDE, BUT INSTEAD HE CHECKED OUT EARLY.
A man who had lived with Jesus for 3 years, WHO HAD sat at his feet, witnessed countless miracles (WHAST GREAT POTETNAIL HE HAD), yet in the end turned away and never looked back. WHAT A TRAGIC END TO SO,GREAT OF A POTENTIAL...
Many believers are following the same path as Judas -- They have great potential for the Lord -- But like Judas they have denied Jesus -- Trued they did not give the Master the fatal kiss in the garden -- but they deny him nevertheless by their life, speech and actions ... They are denying him by not putting him first and they fooling no one but themselves... And when life gets uncomfortable because they are not seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness -- They express worldly pride and worldly sorrow and choose to walk their own path, deal with things there own way, and not run to the Lord, expressing repentance and experiencing His forgiveness -- What a tragic end to so great of a potential.
Those who express only regret will experience certain ruin...
B. PETER
THERE IS ANOTHER MAN WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND HIS NAME IS PETER.. AND IN PETER WE FIND AN EXAMPLE OF REPENTANCE AND OF COMPLTEE RESTROATION...
The arrest of Jesus was dramatic not only for Judas but also for Peter... Before that night Peter had such confidence in himself felt he would never deny his Lord...
But the rooster crowed and he looked into the eyes of Jesus as the soldiers led him through the courtyard -- and he realized that he had denied him... And his heart burned with the fire of guilt and shame...
We don’t know where Peter went after this, but we do know from scripture that he wept bitterly and that Jesus appeared to Him -- just Him (Jesus and Peter together)-- shortly after Jesus’ resurrection...
I like to picture it this way. Since Peter was a fisherman I can see him running from the courtyard heart pounding, tears flowing his robes flying in the wind... He is running hard, as fast as his legs can pump as if somehow this release of energy will relieve his pain, it doesn’t.
And he runs to the only place he could, a place he knew better than any other, the sea... And as he looks at the waves crashing in, as he watches the sky grows bright with a new dawn he sits and he stares and he thinks about Jesus and he weeps some more. "Why did I deny him? Why? If only I had died in the garden? Jesus I don’t know what to do, Jesus I need you" And he sits there and he walks the beach, and time no longer has any meaning to him -- he doesn’t know how long he has been there -- he doesn’t even know what day it is...But he hears a familiar voice in the distance and he sees John running towards him... "Peter come quickly they say His tomb is empty." They run to the tomb and find it empty... They leave the tomb -- John goes to tell the others, but Peter goes off by himself -- his guilt at his denial has made it hard for him to join in the celebration just yet...
And as he is walking, suddenly he feels a hand on his shoulder and looks and sees Jesus standing there.... HIS HEART STOPS AND HE SEES THE NAILED SCARED HAND AND THE LOOK OF LOVE AND COMPASSION IN THE EYS OF HIS LORD AND FRIEND AND HE FALLS TO HIS KNEES AND EXPRESSES GODLY SORROW AND REPENTANCE AS HE WALKS DOWN INTO THE VALLEY OF RESTROATION.What passed in that intimate meeting between Jesus we are not sure -- but we can certain there was full confession , blessed forgiveness and restoration to fellowship with the Lord in that sacred hour...
Godly sorrow leads to repentance (HUMBLE CONFESSION OF OUR SINS TO THE KING).....
And repentance leads to complete restoration....
The path Peter took was one of repentance for his sins and when he walked out of the valley of restoration he was changed form an overconfident self willed man -- to a humble spiritual giant who helped turn the world upside down.
Restoration is a beautiful thing and the Bible is full of examples. From David in the Old to Peter in The New. And there is the story of the prodigal son, Where God portrayed as a Father patiently watching and waiting for his rebellious son to return -- and running out to meet as he sees him on the road.
In fact the only time God is pictured as being in a hurry is to forgive and restore his children.
WHEN GOD’S PEOPEL DO BAD THINGS:
THE FAITHFUL RESPOND WITH CONCERN COMMITMENT AND COURAGE
AND THE FALLEN MUST RESPOND WITH GODLY SORROW;
Max Lucado in His book No Wonder They Call Him Savior Writes:
AT THE TRIALS END ARE 2 TEES.
ONE IS WEATHERED AND LEAFLESS. IT IS DEAD BUT STILL STURDY. IT’S BARK IS GONE, LEAVING SMOOTH WOOD BLEACHED BY THE YEARS. TWIGS AND BUDS NO LONGER SPROUT, ONLY BARE BRANCHES FORK FROM THE TRUNK. ON THE STRONGEST OF THESE BRANCHES IS A HANGMAN NOOSE. IT IS HERE JUDAS DEALT WITH HIS FAILURE.
IF ONLY JUDAS HAD LOOKED AT THE ADJACENT TREE. IT IS ALSO DEAD; ITS WOOD IS ALSO SMOOTH. BUT THERE IS NO NOOSE TIED TO ITS CROSSBEAM. NO MORE DEATH ON THIS TREE. ONCE WAS ENOUGH. ONE DEATH FOR ALL.
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BETRAYED JESUS KNOW BETTER THAN TO BE TOO HARD ON JUDAS FOR CHOOSING THE TREE HE DID. TO THINK THAT JESUS WOULD REALLY UNBURDEN OUR SHOULDERS AND UNSHACKLE OUR LEGS AFTER ALL WE’VE DONE TO HIM IS NOT EASY TO BELIEVE. IN FACT, IT TAKES JUST AS MUCH FAITH TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS CAN LOOK PAST MY BETRAYALS AS IT DOES TO BELIEVE HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD. BOTH ARE JUST AS MIRACULOUS.
WHAT A PAIR, THESE 2 TRESS. ONLY AS FEW FEET FROM THE TREE OF DESPAIR STANDS THE TREE OF HOPE. LIFE SO PARADOXICALLY CLOSE TO DEATH. GOODNESS WITHIN ARMS REACH OF DARKNESS. A HANGMAN NOOSE AND A LIFE PRESERVER SWINGING ION THE SAME SHADOW.
BUT HERE THEY STAND.
ONE CAN’T HELP BUT BE A BIT STUNNED BY THE INCONCEIVABILITY OF IT ALL. WHY DOES JESUS STAND ON LIFE’S MOST BARREN HILL AND WAIT ME WITH OUTSTRETCHED, NAIL PIERCED HANDS? a TYPE OF GRACE LIKE THAT DOESN’T UP TO LOGIC. BUT I GUESS GRACE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE LOGICAL. IF IT DID IT WOULDN’T BE GRACE.
IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE WHICH TREE WILL YOU CHOOSE TODAY...
WILL PRIDE KEEP US FROM ADMITTING WHERE WE REALLY ARE IN OUR REALTIONSHIP TO THE LORD... WILL PRIDE CASUE YOU TO CHOOSE THE SAME TREE AS JUDAS?
YOU CAN COME TO GODS TREE OF HOPE JUST AS YOU ARE AND BE RESTORED -- THE FATHER IS WAITING AND WATCHING -- ARE YOU WILLING TO HUMBLY WALK DOWN THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO THE VALLEY OF RESTORATION -- IT’S YOUR CHOICE -- YOU ARE CHOOSING THE TREE.
"HOW TO GET THE JOB DONE"
TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-9:8
INTRODUCTION
Employers at a Detroit business office found they were having a difficult time getting the job done so they posted the following notice on the employee bulletin board: "THE MANAGEMENT REGRETS THAT IT HAS COME TO THEIR ATTENTION THAT WORKERS DYING ON THE JOB ARE FAILING TO FALL DOWN. THIS PRACTICE MUST STOP, AS IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DEATH AND NATURAL MOVEMENT OF THE STAFF. ANY EMPLOYEE FOUND DEAD IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION WILL HENCEFORTH BE DROPPED FROM THE PAYROLL."
Today is Labor day weekend, a time set aside to honor work and the work ethic. And since there is no greater work than Kingdom Work, I want us to talk about Kingdom Work today, about getting the job done in The Kingdom.
Our text today is II Corinthians 8 and 9. In these chapters Paul is encouraging the Church in Corinth to take part in the offering that he was gathering to help the Christians in Jerusalem who were suffering greatly because of famine and persecution. As Paul starts this section off he uses the Macedonia Church as an example of supreme generosity in order to encourage the Corinthians to also be involved.
As I read through these chapters that deal with Paul encouraging the Corinthians to greater Stewardship (here specifically giving of money), I saw 10 (and don’t get scared, I’ll keep them short), I saw ten principles. And I want to apply these principles that Paul gave in regards to one aspect of stewardship (giving of money) -- to the broader scope of stewardship including the giving of not just our money but our time and talents as well. These principles relate to getting the work done in the Kingdom. Principles which form the very foundation of Kingdom Work, principles that if we adopt, there will be no limit to what God can do in this place.
Everyone here today, who is serious about being a part of Kingdom Work -- (and that should include everyone who is a Christian), needs to pay close attention to this study. And if you are a leader in the Church or are active in ministry you especially need to tune in.
WE WILL READ THROUGH THESE 2 CHAPTERS AND THEN STOP OCCASIONALLY AS WE ENCOUNTER ONE OF THESE PRINCIPLES.
Are you ready, then let’s go!
1. FIRST GIVE OURSELVES TO THE LORD (8:5)
This is the first step we have to take if we are ever going to do anything significant for the Kingdom of God-- we must First Give Ourselves to The Lord... What does it mean to give ourselves to the Lord? It means more than simply walking down the aisle and being baptized -- It means more than accepting Jesus as our Savior.
It means to accept Jesus as our Lord, It means to be completely sold out for Jesus, it means to give up "self", to submit our will to the King of Kings. This is what Paul was talking about when he wrote the following words in Galatians 2:20
"I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST AND I NO LONGER LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME. THE LIFE I LIVE IN THE BODY, I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME."
And also when he wrote the following in 2 Corinthians 5:15;
"AND CHRIST DIED FOR ALL, THAT THOSE WHO LIVE SHOULD NO LONGER LIVE FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR HIM WHO DIED FOR THEM AND WAS RAISED AGAIN."
Unless, we no longer live for ourselves, unless, we give ourselves completely to Him -- unless, we are ashamedly sold out to Christ -- We are not even on the road to doing significant Kingdom Work...
If you have ever wondered HOW some people can be so uncommitted in their giving, their attendance, their participation in worship (they act bored, "man when is this thing going to be over") and in their service in the Church... The problem is not the church; It is a spiritual problem, Because those individuals have not yet, first given themselves to Lord...
Because the automatic and natural consequence of giving oneself to the Lord -- is that the individual really gets serious about the Work of the Kingdom/Church -- because "that individual no longer lives, but Christ lives in and works through them."
LET’S MOVE ON...
2. IF WE WANT TO GET THE JOB IN THE KINGDOM DONE, WE MUST ALSO EXCEL IN THE GRACE OF GIVING. (8:7-9)
Paul in these verses is telling the Corinthians, "hey guys you are on a roll, you are making great progress in your: faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness and in love... let’s keep the ball rolling, don’t stop short, but also excel in the grace of giving, as well."
Faith, speech, knowledge and love are important, but we can’t stop there -- we also need to give. Now Paul is talking here about specifically financial giving or stewardship, but it is also part of stewardship to give of our time, talents as well as our treasure to the Lord.
I know that sometimes it seems that everybody and his brother wants something from you.
IT HAD BEEN A HARD WINTER IN THE ROCKIES. THE SNOW PILED DEEPER AND DEEPER. THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW ZERO AND STAYED THERE. THE RIVERS FROZE OVER. PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING. THE RED CROSS USED HELICOPTERS TO FLY IN SUPPLIES.
AFTER A LONG HARD DAY, AS THEY WERE RETURNING TO THEIR BASE, THE RESCUE TEAM IN A HELICOPTER SAW A CABIN NEARLY SUBMERGED IN THE SNOW. A THIN WISP,OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE CHIMNEY. THE MEN FIGURED THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT CABIN WERE PROBABLY CRITICALLY SHORT OF FOOD, FUEL, AND MEDICINE. BECAUSE OF THE TREES THEY HAD TO SET DOWN ABOUT A MILE FROM THE CABIN. THEY PUT THEIR HEAVY EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT ON THEIR BACKS, TRUDGED THROUGH WAIST DEEP SNOW, AND REACHED THE CABIN EXHAUSTED, PANTING, AND PERSPIRING. THEY POUNDED ON THE DOOR AND A THIN, GAUNT MOUNTAIN WOMEN FINALLY ANSWERED.
THE LEAD MAN PANTED, "MA’AM, WE’RE FROM THE RED CROSS."
SHE WAS SILENT FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN SHE SAID, "IT’S BEEN A HARD LONG WINTER, SONNY. I JUST DON’T THINK WE CAN GIVE ANYTHING THIS YEAR!"
Though demands for our time, talents and treasure come form nearly every direction -- and sometimes with understandable justification we are leery at times to answer the phone or open the door... But the grace of giving to God is not, a demand -- It is a command.
And Paul says in verse 8 that our giving is a test of the sincerity of our Love. He goes on to say that Jesus practice the grace of giving..."THOUGH HE WAS RICH, YET FOR YOUR SAKE HE BECAME POOR (LEFT HIS HEAVENLY THRONE, PUT ON FLESH, SUFFERED ON THE CROSS) SO THAT YOU THROUGH HIS POVERTY, MIGHT BECOME RICH." The bottom line is this, if our love for Jesus is sincere, we will give him the best of our time, treasure and talents...
And if we are not giving our best -- our love is not sincere, it is only a collection of hallow and meaningless words...
3. TO GET THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM DONE, WE MUST ALSO FINISH THE WORK WE EAGERLY BEGAN (8:11)
Years earlier when Paul first started collecting this offering the Corinthians had been the first ones to desire to give and to give. They had led the parade, they were out in front. They may have been the motivation that led other churches to give towards the offering for the Jerusalem Church. Paul probably shared as he traveled about how eager the Corinthians were to give.
However something had changed. They had evidently lost both the desire and the doing. And therefore Paul says in verse 11, "NOW FINISH THE WORK, SO THAT YOUR EAGER WILLINGNESS TO DO IT MAY BE MATCHED BY YOUR COMPLETION OF IT.." They meant well , but they didn’t carry through, they left the job unfinished. Many churches do faith promises where people pledge to give a certain amount above their regular tithe -- excitement make commitment s to give but when the going gets rough or they want something for themselves -- the don’t follow through on their commitment.
I think we all know what that is all about, I’m each of us here has eagerly started a project around the house or some other thing and before long the thrill is gone... and the exercise bike sits collecting rust in the garage, the car has a permanent home on those blocks, those books never do get read, and the job that we started off with such desire, never gets done.... And they forever remain a monument of our failure to count the cost and our unwillingness to pay the price to see the thing through.
This also happens in the church too, people eagerly volunteer, take on a job or task with great eagerness -- but before too long that job also winds up as a monument, stuck up on blocks or locked in the garage. Meaning well is not good enough in the Kingdom, because the job remains undone... And jobs in the kingdom are essential to the effectiveness of the church carrying out it’s mission and are therefore matters of life and death.
Something worth starting is worth finishing....
Now certainly there are times and situations beyond our control that prevent one from finishing the work -- but we need to ensure that they are valid reasons and not lame excuses.
If we want to get the job done in the Kingdom we need to Finish the work we eagerly began. If we take on a job let’s see it through to completion....
4. WE ALSO NEED TO STRIVE FOR EQUALITY IN THE KINGDOM WORK (8:13-15)
There is a great deal of work to be done in the Kingdom/in the church. And if we want to get the job done there needs to be equality in the work distribution. It really does no good to have some who are hard pressed, taking on a much to great of a load while others have it easy...(no loads)
If everyone one does the best they can... If they give the best of their treasure, if they give the best of their time, if the give the best of their talents... The work will not always outnumber the willing workers...
There are some within the body here that are carrying much too heavy of a load, if there is a job that needs to be done and no one wants to do it -- they will always step in, you can always count on them, "GOD KNOWS WHO YOU ARE" and I praise HIM often for such willing workers. But while they are breaking their backs, there are others who are not even breaking a sweet and are just taken it easy (pew potatoes) ... And that is neither right or fair...
In most churches 25% of the people give 75% of the offering and do 75% of the work -- and the church is therefore severely limited (by the energy and the ability of the few), as she strives to get the job done carrying along a lot of dead weight (like the business in Detroit).
If EVERYONE AT ETCC WORKED AND GAVE THERE BEST there would be no stopping the influence of this church in this place. SOME MAY SAY "THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN IT’S A PIPE DREAM" BUT I SAY IT’S NOT A PIPE DREAM, IT’S GOD’S DREAM -- AND SATAN’S NIGHTMARE.
5. IT IS LIKEWISE ESSENTIAL THAT WE DEVELOP A CONCERN FOR THE KINGDOM. (8:16)
Titus was concerned about the church in Corinth, he knew them and cared about them. And when Paul told Titus about this appeal(for the churches in Judea), he knew that the Corinthians needed to be a part of this effort. And Titus was concerned enough about them to do something, he turned around and made the trip back to their city.
If the job is going to get done in the Kingdom, in this place... We need to have people who have a genuine concern for the Lord’s work here (building a strong church to influence this community for Christ, seeking and saving the lost that live outside these doors), we need people like Titus who have enough concern that they are willing to do something -- to ensure that the work gets done, that the message gets out.
TWO MORE KEYS FOR GETTING KINGDOM WORK DONE ARE FOUND IN VERSE 17
6. THE FIRST IS WE MUST HAVE MUCH ENTHUSIASM! (8:17)
Several years ago when Chelsea was just a baby, and we were doing the first child kind of thing, going to Sears about every week to have her picture made. I was sitting in the waiting room and I saw a sign that I have never forgotten... It said
"NOTHING GREAT HAS EVER HAPPENED WITHOUT ENTHUSIASM."
Enthusiasm is; "a strong excited feeling", "it is to be filled with zeal, fervor or passion"
When Titus went to Corinth with this appeal his was full of zeal and passion, he was excited. He didn’t say "well Paul is doing this uh offering thing, and uh if you uh would like to maybe help it would be okay and all." No Titus was pumped and excited about it. "HEY BROTHERS WE REALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO HELP OUT SOME HURTING BROTHERS -- TO GIVE AND HELP THEM LIKE CHRIST HELPED US."
If we can get enthuses about NBA CHAMPIONSHIP, ABOUT THE SUPER BOWL OR THE WORLD SERIES -- A NEW DRESS OR GREAT MOVIE -- DON’T YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE ENTHUSED ABOUT KINGDOM WORK -- WORK THAT SAVES PEOPLE FROM ETERNAL CONDEMNATION AND GIVES THEM AN ABUNDANT LIFE IN THE HERE AND NOW.... IF WE CAN’T GET EXCITED ABOUT THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG!!
AND ONE MORE THING ABOUT ENTHUSIASM IT’S CONTAGIOUS... TEACHERS, LEADERS, WORKERS, CHRISTIANS LET’S BE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE LORD’S WORK HERE....
7. THE SECOND PRINCIPLE MENTION IN VERSE 7 IS INTUITIVE. IF WE WANT TO GET THE WORK DONE WE MUST ACT ON OUR OWN INITIATIVE
Paul said that "HE IS COMING TO YOU WITH MUCH ENTHUSIASM AND ON HIS OWN Initiative" Can you believe that? He came on his own imitative. Titus was a self starter, hard worker! He looked for ways to help.
That kind of spirit is rare today, most people look for ways to get out of work rather than look for work. "Oh no they are looking for volunteers again, quick I better hide in the bathroom, I’ll pretend I didn’t or didn’t see him."
But praise God for those self starters, those who look around and see something in the Church that is not running smooth or not getting done... And rather than criticizing it or going to another church where it’s done better, they come up to the leadership "Hey I was noticing that this needs to be done... If it’s okay I’d like to take that job on."
Titus had much enthusiasm and he acted on his own initiative -and that combination, "enthusiasm/initiative" is powerful and will lead to things in the kingdom....
LET’S READ ON....
8. WE NEED TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS (8:18-24)
This point really applies to the leadership, to those who handle the affairs of the church. "WE WANT TO AVOID ANY CRITICISM OF THE WAY WE ADMINISTER THIS GIFT. FOR WE ARE TAKING PAINS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, NOT ONLY IN THE EYES OF GOD BUT ALSO IN THE EYES OF MEN"
It is foolish pride that DISREGARDS the opinions of people. Paul knew that some would question the way he handled the gift. "HOW DO WE KNOW PAUL IS GOING TO TAKE THIS GIFT BACK TO JERUSALEM? HOW DO WE KNOW THAT IT ISN’T SKIMMING SOME OFF THE TOP, JUST HOW MUCH IS HE CLAIMING AS EXPENSES?"
Paul didn’t flippantly say, "Trust me, I’m your leader" Rather he gave detailed information. "TITUS IS GOING WITH ME AND SO IS THE BROTHER YOU SELECTED, A MEN OF IMPECCABLE CHARACTER -- AND WE WILL DELIVER THE GIFT TOGETHER."
WE NEED TO DO GOD’S WORK AND AT THE SAME TIME BE SENSITIVE TO THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS. WE NEED TO DO THINGS ABOVE BOARD SO THAT THERE WILL BE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR INTEGRITY...
THIS WILL BUILD TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE LEADERSHIP AND THIS ESSENTIAL IN GETTING THE KINGDOM WORK DONE.
9. WE MUST NOT GIVE OR WORK GRUDGINGLY (9:1-5)
It is important that the money we give and the work we do is not done in grudgingly manner.
Suppose it’s your anniversary and your Spouse comes in and throws a brown paper sack at you and says, "WELL THERE’S YOUR ANNIVERSARY PRESENT! DIDN’T WANT TO GET IT, COST TOO MUCH! BUT I KNEW YOU’D GRIP AT ME FOR A MONTH IF I DIDN’T. SO THERE IT IS, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!" That gift doesn’t mean too much..does it?
On the other hand suppose your spouse buys you a thoughtful gift and wraps it up and writes a note on it that says, " You deserve much better than this, and when I have the resources some day, I’m going to give you a lot more." -- now that gift means a whole lot, does it?
How do you think God feels about a gift that is grudging given -- "WELL IF I HAVE TO HERE YOU GO GOD AS WE DROP IN OUR CHECK, YEAH I’LL KEEP THE NURSE OR TEACH THAT CLASS BUT DON’T ASK ME TO DO IT AGAIN... I’ SERVE YOU GOD BUT I DON’T WANT TO AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE REALLY PUTTING ME OUT." doesn’t mean too much does it?
ON THE OTHER HAND HOW DO YOU THINK GOD FEELS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL WHO GIVES ALL THE CAN -- WHO SACRIFICE MONEY AND TIME TO GIVE GOD THE GIFT OF SERVICE. "GOD YOU DESERVE SO MUCH MORE THAN I COULD EVER GIVE YOU BACK... BUT I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE BEST I CAN!"
EVERYONE HERE IS GIVING GOD SOME KIND OF GIFT -- ARE WE THROWING HIM A PAPER BAG AND SAYING , "HERE YOU GO GOD, I HOPE YOUR HAPPY!"
OR ARE WE WRAPPING UP OUR ENTIRE LIVES AND SAYING GOD IT’S NOT MUCH, BUT I WANT YOU TO HAVE IT ALL.
10. AND LASTLY WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.
(9:6,7)
It is a foolish farmer who sits on his porch everyday/all day, smoking his pipe, with sacks of seed stacked up all around him... saying to himself, "YUP I SURE HOPE WE HAVE A GOOD CROP THIS YEAR." FRIENDS IF WE DON’T SOW ANYTHING WE ARE NOT GOING TO REAP ANYTHING!! IF WE DON’T PUT NOTHING INTO CHURCH, THAT’S WHAT WE’LL REAP NOTHING!
IF WE COME INTO THIS WORSHIP SERVICE WITH THE ATTITUDE -- I’M NOT GOING TO ENJOY THIS AND GRIT OUR TEETH ALL THE WAY THROUGH... WE’LL LEAVE EMPTY. WE MAY HAVE FULFILLED SOME INNER GUILT ABOUT BEING IN CHURCH, BUT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN FAR FROM WORSHIPPING THE LIVING GOD...
IF YOU CAN TAKE OR LEAVE CHURCH, IF YOU CAN TAKE OR LEAVE BIBLE STUDIES, IT IS NOT THE CHURCH -- YOUR NOT SOWING!
ON THE OTHER HAND IF WE TRULY PUT OURSELVES INTO THE LORD AND HIS WORK -- LIKE THAT SMALL SEED THAT BECOME A STALK OF CORN --- WE WILL BE AMAZED AT WHAT WE REAP FOR OUR NOMINAL HUMAN EFFORTS .. GOD IS A GIVING GOD WHO LOVES TO BLESS HIS CHILDREN...
CONCLUSION
IF WE WANT TO GET THE JOB DONE: WE MUST:
GIVE OURSELVES TO THE LORD -- EXCEL IN THE GRACE OF GIVING -- FINISH THE WORK WE EAGERLY BEGAN -- STRIVE FOR EQUALITY IN WORK -- DEVELOP A CONCERN FOR KINGDOM -- HAVE ENTHUSIASM AND INITIATIVE -- BE SENSITIVE TO OTHERS OPINIONS -- DO NOT GIVE GRUDGINGLY -- AND UNDERSTAND WE REAP WHAT WE SOW...
WE WILL CLOSE BY READING THE REST OF CHAPTER 9 AS A DOXOLOGY WHICH EXPRESSES THE BLESSINGS WE RECEIVE WHEN WE GIVE TO GOD...
WHAT IS THE INDESCRIBABLE GIFT -- "JOY & BLESSINGS OF SERVING GOD"
