Message Notes From 3/2022 - Give A Portion To The Seven, Also To Eight
Text: Ecclesiastes 11:1-5, 2 Corinthians 9:3-5, 2 Corinthians 9:6-9, Luke 12:15, 1 Cor. 16:2, Proverbs 11:24-26, Malachi 3:8-12, Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:10-13
Ecclesiastes 11:1-5 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thoi knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
2 Corinthians 9:3-5 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as i said, ye may be ready: Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, yet) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he who soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudginly, 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 in 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 for ever.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
1 Cor. 16:2 - Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Proverbs 11:24-26 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that witholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. he that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
Malachi 3:8-12 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 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. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts
Luke 6:38 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.
2 Corinthians 9:10-13 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgiving unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
2 Cor. 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver
The amount of our gift cannot be assigned by another or PRESSURED by another - it must be our CHOICE WILLINGLY
The Believer should choose FREELY what he wants - sparingly or bountifully
ANYTHING not giving willingly is NOT TRUE giving - Acts 2:44-45; 4:22
"SO LET HIM GIVE" - dictated by the heart (not the head)
The world gives according to its head because the world is selfish; the believer gives from the heart because if he's true believer his heart belongs to God
When giving has a view only to reward, it ceases to be Christian giving
God loveth a CHEERFUL giver, a HILARIOUS giver
God's approval and our profit are not to be determined by the amount of our gift, but rather the SPIRIT and the MOTIVE behind the gift!
Giving is not a means of distributing the money it is a means of developing character.
How we handle the blessings of God determine a great deal of how we handle our hearts! (AND VICE VERSA)
It is a question of Christ's loyalty and our loyalty
If the gift is forced and constrained it will not be accepted and will not be blessed
God loves a cheerful giver because it shows a heart like HIS OWN - a HEART disposed to give cheerfully
When God sees there is no sincerity or motivated by greed will hate the SPIRIT with which it is done no matter the amount
John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul pros
Leviticus 27:20 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.
2 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Leviticus 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD
The Blessing Of Giving - 2 Corthians 9:5-7
The Corinthians were to understand the offering was a blessing - just others, but the giver too
It was not just a mere offering of money but rather a Praise Offering
It was to be generous as it was a gift to God
"Not of Covetousness" - The Modern Gospel is reeked with this spirit in giving and receiving
Covetousness is a great sin; Several words in Hebrew describe its evil power.
Hamad - "desiring a neighbor's possession (Deut 5:2)
Besa - "a desire for honest gain" (Prov. 28:16; Jer: 6:13)
Awa - "selfish desire" - (Prov. 21:26)
Final Commandment of Exodus 20:17 - "Thou shalt not covet"
"epithymia," - Expresses any intense desire concentrated on money - it's a sin of the poor and rich (1 Tim. 6:9; Romans 7:7; Acts 20:33)
"pleaonexia" - Ruthless self-assertion (2 Cor. 2:11) - relating to riches - repudiated by Christ in Luke 12:15, Mark 7:22 Eph. 4:19 - Worship of SELF - and IDOLATRY in Ephesisans 5:5 and Colossians 3:5.
Money is the God of the Covetousness.
2 Corinthians 9:6
Sowing and reaping bountifully - Proverbs 11:24-26
What we sow we reap - either little or great depending on the SEED
We reap in proportion to what is sowed - be it grain or money
"He that soweth great blessings shall reap also great blessings"
All giving is rooted in Grace and Gratitude
God manifested His Grace to us by giving the Lord Jesus Christ - GOD GAVE and GIVES manifold blessings to His glorious salvation
A truly gracious person will want to reciprocate to God with a heart of THANKSGIVING, NOT COVETOUSNESS
God was the first example of GIVING and we should follow that example!
Paul is literally begging the Macedonians to "give" because giving makes GRACE abound
"Sowing" and "Reaping" speaks of harvest - And he who gives will see God's harvest of "showers of blessing"; God is a God of showers of harvest riches;
He is the same God of showers of Blessings in the Christian life - He does not desire us to be in poverty
We are in those states because of choices, motive or lack of giving
Hi was of blessing is no the world's way - grinding the poor; witholding wages, robbing others - God's way is harvest (Galatians 6:7)
"HE WHO SOWS ON THE BASIS OF, ON THE PRINCIPLE OF BLESSINGS, SHALL REAP ON THIS BASIS AND THE PRINCIPLE"
2 Corinthians 9:7 - Not Grudgingly, But Cheerfully
The amount of our gift cannot be assigned by another PRESSURED by another - it must be our CHOICE WILLINGLY
The Believer should choose FREELY what he wants -sparingly or bountifully
ANYTHING not giving willingly is NOT TRUE giving - Acts 2:44-45; 4:22
"SO LET HIM GIVE" - dictated by the heart (not the head)
The world gives according to its head because the world is selfish; the believer gives from the heart because if he's true believer his heart belongs to God
When giving has a view only to reward, it ceases to be Christian giving
God loveth a CHEERFUL giver, a HILARIOUS giver
God's approval and our profit are not to be determined by the amount of our gift, but rather the SPIRIT and the MOTIVE behind the gift!
Giving is not a means of distributing the money it is a means of developing characters.
How we handle the blessings of God determine a great deal of how we handle our hearts! (AND VICE VERSA)
It is a question of Christ's Loyalty and our loyalty
If the gift is forced and constrained it will to be accepted and will not be blessed
God loves a cheerful giver because it shows a heart like HIS OWN - a HEART disposed to give cheerfully
When God sees there is no sincerity or motivated by greed will hate the SPIRIT with which it is done no matter the amount.
The Example of Israel
Exodus 35:4-35:7
Israel was never at a higher spiritual level than when Moses actually had to call a halt to their hilarious giving for the Tabernacle
The Lord instructed that it was to be a willing Offering (Exodus 25:2) - it was an God blessed it abundantly
2 Corinthians 9:8
God is able to make ALL GRACE abound to you - speaks of the fact giving is more than just money
God imparts favor and things which are needful for our welfare
Our giving no matter how generous it may be cannot EARN anything from God; the Lord has nothing for sale
God needs nothing, so all of this is for our benefit and definitely NOT HIS
God's Economy is not one of receiving, it's one of giving
When we enter into His Economy - GOD GIVEH ALL GRACE! - its ABOUNDING GRACE
All Grace - "every grace"
All sufficiency - means physical, mental, economical, and spiritual - God will furnish what you need to be blessed!
No one who has ever given liberally has ever wound up poor
All abounding - "may abound to every good work" refers to the believer taking the bounty God has given him and others
The heaping of "every" or "all" is "Every grace," "every sufficiency," "every good work."
2 Corinthians 9:10-13 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgiving unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
Here is the promise of where the bread needs to go! "Upon the waters" - The Holy Spirit will lead you where to cast your bread!
Some of the fulfillment you shall find it "after many days"
We are not to lose faith, the guarantee has been given
Financial blessing is same as healing - keep asking and keep knocking
Ecclesiastes 11:2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eigth; for thou knoweth not what evil shall be upon the earth.
The number seven is God's number of Perfection
We are to give the PERFECT Gospel to others.
The number EIGHT speaks of the Resurrection meaning there is only ONE GOSPEL that guarantees immediate life and the life to come
We must do what we can to take the gospel to others and should never be based on the "evil" that prevades the Earth
We live our lives based on a heavenly economy, not an earthly one!
This is what true "occupying" is "until He Comes!"
Ecclesiastes 11:3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
Whatever position in which the Christian finds themselves in is ALWAYS an opportunity for the Blessing of the Lord
This is to both RECEIVE a Blessing and BE a Blessing to others! (GIVING)
Many Christians always seek to put themselves "in another place" thinking that in the "other place" God can bless there
The Holy Spirit is saying it don't matter the place, God is able to move in that particular situation!
Believe Him and receive, doubt and do without