Kerwin Baptist Church Daily Broadcast

Welcome to the Kerwin Baptist Church broadcast our desire is for the word of God spread throughout all me know. Join us now for a portion of one of our services here at Kerwin Baptist Church located in Kernersville, North Carolina what you look at verse one is chapter 8.

Moreover, brethren, we do you to witness of the grace of God. In other words we do you to understand to know to take notice of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. In other words, even though these bad things happen to them. It literally propelled them to be even more generous in their giving. While notice verse 342 their power, I bear record and beyond their power. I have a ring up your luggage on beyond their power they were willing of themselves, praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift and take upon us the Fellowship of the ministering to the Saints and this they did not, as we hoped, but first gave their own selves unto the Lord and onto us by the will of God really continuous versus as we continue to do with this passage. Let's pray and ask God to open our hearts to my good on everything.

By the way can you hear me good out there. Everybody good in it. But in the balcony. Good luck. What would you say come to me.

Let's pray Lord I love you. Thank you for our people. Lord I pray that you bless as we try to dig into your word and rightfully divided today. In Jesus name we pray. Amen this testimony of the Macedonian churches given to us here in Scripture is something that should motivate us in our lives and I know you don't understand this yet, but I'm asking you to give me a few minutes of your time because you and I need to learn from this passage. Let me share this that two years ago our church theme for the entire year was beyond their power.

So were going to go back to this passage we want to talk about this a little bit to the aspect of stewardship. Why is there testimony so powerful it's because of the significance of their motive to listen to me.

God in his economy and you and I need operating God's economy.

By the way were going to talk about that in God's economy listen to me. The motive is as important as the gift itself. The motive is as important as the gift that is given why we are giving what is the objective of our giving is as important as what we are giving and that's what we need to learn here I was doing some research this week a little bit I wanted I wanted to read this to you about this as good a man had a heart was not good. He had a heart tag. Listen to me as I'm reading you the story. I think it was a misplaced modifier something in English language. I don't know a man had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital he could receive little company and was not to be excited.

The doctors did not want his heart rate going up while in the hospital a rich uncle died and left that man $1 million. His family wondered how to break the news to him with the least amount of excitement. So would not cause him health issues. It was decided to ask his preacher that if he would go and break the news quietly to the man so the preacher went and gradually he led up to the question and the preacher asked the patient what he would do it for some reason, he inherited $1 million. He said I think I would give half of it to the church in the preacher dropped it well and that wasn't as good a reaction. I was I was thinking that one was going to be. Thank you Frank, thank you, Frank Lois Cheney in her book, God is no fool. She roof this front axle serious about this, but once a man said if I had some extra money I give it to God, but I have just enough to support myself and my family and the same man said if I had some extra time I give it to God, but every minute is taken up with my job, my family, my clubs and what have I left from all that the same man said if I had a talent I give it to God, but I have no lovely voice. I have no special skill.

I've never been able to lead a group. I can't think cleverly or quickly. The way I would like to, but if I had it I would give it to God and God was so touched and although it was unlike him. God gave that man money gave him time gave him a glorious talent.

And then he waited and waited and waited and after a while God began to wonder why this man had not given all the things that he said he would give so God took all those things right back from the man the money the time the talent.

After a while, the man sighed and said if I only had some of that money back. I give it to God I finally had some of that time I give it to God. If I could only rediscover that glorious talent I give it to God and God said, oh, shut up. I thought that was hilarious. I thought that was hilarious.

You're not supposed to say that but I thought that was funny was really waiting for this grand and God said shut up today. You know me nothing or say it anyway but you okay let's get on to the word of God today.

Now that I have ruined it enough. What are we to learn from second Corinthians chapter 8. There are number of reasons why people give and then there are some people that just don't give it all. We all know that that's the case, and sometimes people have their reasons and their excuses and how somebody did something wrong and mishandled this or that in we can come up with a whole lot of reasons and excuses are whatever we want to call the but I do want to give you a couple today that are not necessarily the right kind of reasons, and as we look at sacred, in chapter 8, with these people were going through.

I want us to understand what should be going on in our life. First, there is guilt giving. There are some people that give out a guilt. There are some people that they feel pushed or coerced or they know if they don't get that they're just going to feel guilty and so sometimes there giving literally comes from the fact that they're jilted into it either by their own conscience or by a preacher or by a teacher or by whoever but their guilt into giving nine he was a child that whatever I got. I gave 10% immediately, and my mom and dad made sure of that and I would say this, I knew that I would be in trouble if I didn't, and I knew that you know that wasn't gonna fly if I decided that I didn't want to do that but some people get out of guilt.

I want you to look at a couple of these verses and by the way this Macedonian church. They didn't give because of that now. The Bible does say some things and notices it says, praying us and in chapter 8 verse four. Look where you're at their adverse for it says, praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift.

Paul literally said that these people were going through such horrible things that they literally had to pay Paul to take their offering that they gave to him. It means that Paul saw what they were going through.

And Saul, the Bible says their deep poverty that literally Paul said in this verse that they had to entreat us they had to beg us to take the money they wanted so badly to give to the Lord that even though even Paul, the preacher said, you just can't afford to do this they paying him to take notices that Corinthians chapter 9 verse seven this verse to be up every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver. There are some people that practice guilt giving and that's not can end up well number two. There are some people to practice greed giving the Macedonian Christians did not do that they did not give because they hope that God would then give them something back. There are a lot of people that give from the heart that only give to God so that you will give me more back now. They would never say that. But deep down that she is, how they have formed their opinion of giving that either. I'm gonna feel guilty if I don't saw him obligated to give or literally want they wanted to do this because God said if I give that he's gonna bless me abundantly. So that's why I'm going to get to listen to me these this church did not give because of what they thought God would get back to them. They gave because they loved God. Now there are some health and wealth preachers and teachers out there will have seen that in the promise that if people will give to their ministries that God will make them wealthy and return and so we have a generation of people that are giving them good motives and assents to Christian ministries, but the motive is that Batman said that if I get there that God will make you wealthy. This is not only on biblical but it promotes unscriptural motive military with the Bible does say Luke chapter 6 verse 38 and its appear give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, 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. What is our basic motive for giving it should not be personal gain.

If we if we give because we feel that that's going to help us financially. Eventually they were missing the big picture were missing.

The joy of giving. We don't give to get we give because we trust God to take care of our needs. I think you understand where I'm going with this, but number three there are people that given grace and is what we call grace giving theirs guilt giving Orrick green giving but then there is grace giving and that's what this church of Macedonia practiced.

Paul was careful to explain that the reason they gave so generously, even when they did not have it. It was because verse one said the grace of God that was bestowed to the churches in Macedonia. Another words there giving was a testimony of God's grace grace giving Philippians 213. This verse is up on the screen. Her this verse for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure daughter that verse before what is it that phrase were says it is God which worketh in you. What is that that's grace grace is God working in you that will grace it and so God literally brings grace into our life and he gives grace in our life for one purpose to enable us to do his well. So the more we do his will. The more a testimony it is to others of the grace of God, the more that these people face difficulty in seeing the more they pay even more that they gave the more God's grace was shown the amazing spiritual givers are motivated by grace, not by guilt, not by greed, spiritual biblical givers are motivated by grace.

The look and you want to get this what the Bible calls their abundant liberality to go over this in the second what the Bible calls that no listen to me. They were not able to show that to have that they did not have abundant liberality in and of themselves.

The Bible said that the grace of God bestowed on them and it was beyond their power to be able to give like that. Why because they gave because of grace. I think for years in churches we have guilt to people into giving and when that didn't work. Then we came up with all the wonderful reasons why they would have so many more things in their life if they did so.

We have created either guilt giving or greed giving. But what is in the Bible is grace giving.

So what is the objective of our stewardship. Knowing it yelling this on the go. This quickly, but you need to watch this notice number one. The objective of stewardship is to depend upon the grace of God, you know that's a whole objective of our giving the whole objective of our stewardship. The fact of taking whatever God gives and honoring him with it, giving him the first portion of that the motive for all that is literally to depend on the grace of God want you to notice the verse one why you're there I think is on Bobby on the screen to notice what he says.

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches and look at verse three and beyond their power they were willing of themselves. The objective of stewardship is to show dependence upon the grace of God. Dependence how preacher dependence and what notice first to show dependence upon God in great trial.

Notice what the Bible says. The Bible says in verse two how that these people were in a great trial. They had testings coming at them. They had difficulty coming at them coming. They had things they didn't expect things that showed up that needed fixed that they hadn't budgeted for is that you crying or God crying. I don't know what imprinted on stewardship, but it what's going on here hear the tears flowing by leader windows down. I hope not.

Great trial. It was interesting. You and I will we face great trials us when we get out of the Bible.

That's we get out of church. Don't even think about getting in our great trials. Our attention turns to us in our great trials.

We think of how bad I and you will know all that I found unexpected that wait a minute.

These people were in great trials, but they never brought it up. Paul did Paul's the one that saw what they went through all they saw was an opportunity to get Melissa you and I are born with that ability, that the grace of God.

Notice, secondly, and great affliction.

He said in verse two that there was a great trial of affliction. I mean, this wasn't just difficulty this is. It got down to where this part. It got down to where this was an affliction.

I mean, these people were taking it.

I mean they had everything come at the man Satan coming at them. They had difficulty coming at them. They had trials coming at them. There was literally affliction in their lives and Paul says that in the middle of this affliction that it literally propel them to gamble our smock got over great affliction notice 30. They were in deep poverty. Verse two gives us a good synopsis men they had great trial. Great affliction and deep not just poverty.

Bible says these people were in deep poverty, listen to me.

You know the whole objective of our stewardship is to show that we depend upon the grace of God, even in trials, even in afflictions, and even if poverty comes our way. We will continue to give and give and give and the greater the trial the more were going to give the greater the affliction the more were going to give the greater the property. The deeper we go no more going to give to God's grace. What person in their right mind would give more when they have less only a person that depends upon the grace of God can ask a question are you depending upon God's grace.

When you give or is it just something you came up with is a just an obligation, or is it just I know supposed to.

So I do. Where is God's grace in all of that. Let me put it this way. What you get this and you can see is on the screen.

Some Christians give below their ability. That means the cost of nothing, they just give a little.

Some Christians never to give their ability.

It means that what is left over what is available or maybe something that they budgeted as far as giving so they don't necessarily give below their ability but they give at their ability. In other words, it makes sense on paper to be able to do this for God so that's what they do but number three there are some Christians that give above their ability.

Anybody else convicted this morning besides Pastor Hunter should I just purchased myself and gone some of the direction this morning are to ask you something. Are you giving below, your ability are you getting at your ability or you giving above your ability to see when you give above your ability. That's grace giving.

That means it might not make sense but I so trust in the grace of God that I'm going to give what God lays on my heart even if it doesn't make sense on paper man, but it is verse six Corinthians chapter 9 verse seven. I know this is rough on a Sunday morning but hey, it's February Sigrid is 9%. Later this every man according as he purpose it in his part, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver.

He's a preacher we just read that verse earlier. Another point why you're repeating it, but look at the end of this in the next verse, and God is able to make all grace abound toward you.

So yeah above Jim with purpose give cheerfully, knowing that God is able to abound grace toward you. This that he always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. Go to love the Bible what's grace giving means I have the objective to show not just people but God that I'm dependent upon his grace. Because I believe that when I give cheerfully and I give abundantly.

I have no doubt that the grace of God is able to abound towards me and I have no doubt that the grace of God will give me sufficiency in all these I feel like I'm kind of trudging up Mount Everest. Here, but you can't argue with the Bible. The objective of our stewardship is to show dependency upon gondolas to me will go on. Grace is the powerful work of God.

Missions are that's what grace is anything short of grace giving is not biblical giving don't know where you are in a finishes up for the end of the month, which is next week but you just got list before.

Second, I believe we are churches and I believe in tithing. I believe that tithing is a biblical principle. But what a lot of confusion with people working to cover this by the way, you know what I try to cover some want to give y'all that all the data on it is that people always say will. Tithing was required under the law. And that's true, and we are not saying today like under the law that if you don't tie God's going to kill you were not saying by the way, that under the law that if you eat meat, that's not clean you're going to get kill. Listen to me where say were not saying that tithing is required were saying that tithing is a principle of God's word and the principle is this that God always gets his portion. First, because everything else he gave it all so we honor him with that portion.

It's okay for some reason. If you don't feel that tithing applies to what we live in it which is the age of grace for the dispensation of grace. What I'm saying is this, you cannot justify anywhere in the Bible that because we live in grace, it excuses you or me from giving limiting what I believe that's more into it. I believe that over the years. We are churches have limited ourselves because we have solely taught the doctrine of tithing. We have told everybody in tithing means that were tied means. The 10th and we have taught them.

By the way, I give the 10th and may I say this I personally believe that we should. But that was never supposed to be the extent of our giving, look at me in the Old Testament God required them to give a 10 in the New Testament Jesus request that we give it all so you know what 1/10 of our income is where we should all start it's because that was what we gave under law and Jesus died for our sins. Since then, and Jesus purchased our redemption. Since then, so we'll read this earlier were not required to just give a 10. We are now required to honor God with all of our sub that's the New Testament principle that the agent grace principle some of you like and you just go back and teach that Old Testament principle of the tent that sounds a whole lot better. May I say this to the people of this church they would've been criticized by their friends for giving so much at a time when they were hurting so badly.

The people of this church probably were criticized by their own family you're going too far. I mean come on now you listen here hurting here and you had such a set. This came up unexpectedly. You'll make what everybody else makes you don't make as much is you need to quit whatever and listen if they do listen to their friends or their family or their culture or anything. Listen, they would've missed out on the blessings of God but because they chose to get involved in grace centered, giving all of you and I would only look at our giving like that God I need your grace to give more got on depending on your grace, I believe in it.

So God I'm just going to give and I'm to give sacrificially, even if it doesn't make sense because I have full confidence that your grace is going to meet all the needs in my life. It will be sufficient. Your grace is enough. God's grace is always enough. The Bible says his grace is sufficient for the and we need to let God know that we believe that number two. The objective of our stewardship is not just to depend upon the grace of God number two. The objective of our stewardship is to display the grace of God. Notice in verse four Paul said this, remember, he said that they literally begged us to take this gift even though we didn't want to take your score praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift notice this and take upon us the Fellowship of the ministering to the saints what these church members did in Macedonia. Paul said they did for us.

They did it for others they displayed the grace of God. Notice if you would, in verse five, but first gave their own selves to the Lord and untie us notice how often Paul says they gave to us. They gave to us all of their giving was centered on others. It was centered on the Lord, not themselves. Did a whole objective of us being good stewards of what God's given in our life is to show others the grace of God, not just to depend on it ourselves but to show God's grace to others. I can't tell what you're convinced of that are not. You say so what you mean by that will, how do we display the grace of God. Notice with these people to number one to display abundant joy. Verse two how that in great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy. Thank you for listening to you received a blessing from our broadcast. The current Baptist Church is located at 4520 Old Hollow Rd. in Kernersville, NC may also contact us by phone in 33699351924 Kerwin Baptist Church.com enjoy our services live molar medium honor website and church. Thank you for listening. Kerwin broadcast God bless you