GOD’S ENABLING GRACE 2 Cor. 9:8 (NKJV) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. INTRODUCTION: Do you ever feel inadequate to handle the demands of life? Do you feel that your strength is gone? Do you feel that you are just barely getting by financially, and that you have so little to give to works of God? If so, I have a good news for each and everyone of you. Let’s look at it again: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” Notice the imagery that we have here. God’s grace toward us is like a fountain of living water. Such a fountain has a never ending source of water. Someone who has a fountain has an all-sufficient supply of water. Then from that fountain of living water we can do much good. We quench thirst. We can fill an 800 gallon baptistery. Even so, God’s grace is like that. You can never exhaust God’s grace. And out of the all sufficiency of His grace, we have all the resources we need to do every good work. Eph. 2:10 says that we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works….” Titus 2:14 says that Christ redeemed us that we might be “zealous for good works.” God does not just demand that we produce good works; He enables us to do good works out of the resources of His grace. One type of good work that we will talk about today is the grace of giving. If you will understand the truths that I will share with you today, it will not only revolutionize your giving, but also your Christian living. To make this possible we need to clearly understand God’s enabling grace. Now the first thing I want to encourage you to do is this: I. ALWAYS CLAIM THE PROMISE OF GOD’S PROVISION 2 Cor. 9:8 (NKJV) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. A. God’s grace is the source of His provision. 2 Cor. 9:8 (NKJV) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 1. The fountain that supplies all that we need is God’s grace. 2. What is grace? a. Using an acrostic, it is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. b. It is the sum total of all the unmerited blessings and favors which come to us from God through Jesus Christ. c. God’s grace is the source of all of His blessings. • God’s grace is not just saving grace. • God’s grace is not just to get you to heaven. • God’s grace is the source of victorious Christian living. 1. If we need strength & ability to do good works, God is able to give that strength. 2. If you are facing temptation, God’s grace will provide a way to escape it, or give you strength to resist it. 3. If you have a great or difficult task, God is able to fully give us all that we need to meet the challenge. B. God’s grace is more than sufficient 2 Cor. 9:8 (NKJV) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 1. God’s grace will abound to us so that we will have “all sufficiency in all things. 2. This means that we have all that we need, lacking nothing. Psalm 23:1(KJV) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 (NLT) The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need. C. God’s provision can be abundant Phil. 4:19 (KJV) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. II. FULFILL THE PURPOSES OF GOD’S PROVISION Why does God supply us with all that we need, and even more than we need? A. God expects us to meet the needs of our own families. 1Tim. 5:8 (NKJV) But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. B. To enable us to do good works. 2 Cor. 9:8 (ESV) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 1. Abounding grace is to bring abounding good works. 2. God’s grace enables us to abound in all kinds of good works. 3. This certainly includes giving. 4. Paul was asking the Corinthians to give to help the poor. That was a good work indeed. 5. But good works includes far more than just giving. 6. People need to be loved, so God gives us love that we might share the love of God with others. 7. If some needs compassion, God will enable us to be compassionate. C. To enable us to meet needs for the glory of God. 2 Cor. 9:12 (NKJV) For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, v. 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, v. 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 1. God gives us money not just to supply our own needs and desires. 2. The highest aim for all of us should be to multiply thanksgivings to God. 3. Grace giving is not to bring glory to us, it should bring glory to God. 4. We are but channels through whom God works to meet the needs of the people. III. FULFILL THE PREREQUISITES OF GOD’S ABUNDANT PROVISION A. You must be “In Christ” 1. This promise is to those who are in vital union with Christ by faith. 2. This is the starting point. No Christ no abundant provision. B. You must work as a proof that you are in Christ. Eph. 2:10 (MSG) No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. 1. God does not promise to supply your need apart from work. 2. God does His part, but you must also do your part. 3. Even the Israelites in the wilderness had to work to gather the manna that God supplied each day. 4. We need to sow the seed before we reap a harvest. 2 Cor. 9:10 (NKJV) Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, Prov. 28:19 (KJV) He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. Pro 14:23 (NKJV) In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty. 5. We need to work not only to provide for our own needs, but also to help others who have Need. Eph. 4:28 (NKJV) Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 1 Tim. 5:4, 8 (NKJV) But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. v. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. C. You must be a generous giver. 1. God promises abundance to those who give generously. 2 Cor. 9:6 (NLT) Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 2. The Philippian church loved Paul and they gave so that his needs would be met, and so that the missionary work could make better progress. Phil. 4:15,16,18 (NLT) As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. v. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. v. 18 At the moment I have all I need--more than I need! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable to God and pleases him. a. Paul assured the generous giver to experience the abundant provision of his God. Phil. 4:19 (NLT) And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. b. Generosity will always result to God’s amazing prosperity. CONCLUSION: God can and able to make all grace abound toward you and make you like an ever-flowing fountain, constantly resupplying you with strength, courage, wisdom, and financial blessings. By His grace He will enable you to succeed in every area of your life, and do many good works for His glory. You need to make sure that you are in Christ. Then you need to be diligent to work since we belong to Him, both in employment and in service. Then take a generous portion of the time, talent, and treasure that God has given you, and invest it in the lives of others and in kingdom work. And just trust God to multiply the seed you have sown into a great harvest. If you have not been living out of the riches of God’s grace, I pray that you will begin to apply what you have learned today!
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:23:27 +0000
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