HOWARD BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP
Howard Baptist Fellowship Messages
Sermons by Evan Digby
Howard Baptist Church 30/04/2023
The Bible reading this morning brings up a very important subject, the support to others who are in need, be it financial or physical assistance - especially for those who are in the Christian church.
Generosity comes with being a child of God, and when we consider the grace and priceless blessings that God has freely given us, we too should be willing to give as needed.
Paul 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.
In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.
Paul 2 Corinthians 8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
The Freedom to Give!
Paul 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.
Paul had previously written a letter to the Corinthians church bringing correction and discipline to them. In our reading, Paul refers to this letter – however, we are not sure if it is the letter of 1 Corinthians or rather a letter referred to by many Bible scholars as the ‘severe’ letter, as it’s contents brought much grief to the Corinthians. If it is a separate letter, then this letter is missing, just like an earlier letter. This is not surprising as many letters were written back and forth, we can be grateful we have what we do!
At that time there a man who had done wrong in the church and Paul had wanted them to sort out this man as his bad influence was misleading the church – he may have been one of the false teachers in the church – later Paul’s accuses some of being ‘false apostles’!
2 Corinthians 11:13
But Paul did not want a division to develop over this matter between him and the church, in his words on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party.
It may well be that this man’s fault was his demeaning of Paul’s authority in the church – thereby making Paul the injured party.
Learning from Titus who had just come from Corinth, Paul was so relieved that they had taken his letter of correction in a loving way, not a bitter way - it led them to sort out this matter and Paul was very glad about their changed attitude.
They had expressed humility and sorrow and repentance towards Paul and this showed that they had regretted their previous choices and now had come back to respecting Paul’s apostolic authority and direction.
This repentance towards Paul would have also been towards God who had commissioned Paul, so any disrespect towards Paul was also disrespect towards God.
But as we see, Paul’s letter had acted like medicine, the Corinthians showed not just worldly remorse and sorrow which is shallow, but they had showed godly sorrow which is deep and results in changed attitudes and growth in their relationship with God.
See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.
From the report by Titus, Paul understands that the Corinthians now had a new found seriousness of purpose, and they had done all they could to separate themselves from their error, and now were seen as innocent due their resolve to make amends. They had become infilled with righteous anger over the ungodly teaching and scandal that had happened in the church, the guilty person involved was punished, and they wanted God’s justice to prevail. We also see a rekindled love of Paul the apostle – what longing, what concern!
In a sense, the repentant Corinthians wanted God’s broom to go right through the church and sweep all the rubbish away.
Which led Paul to exclaim - By all this we are encouraged.
This is similar to what happens when a person comes to God - there needs to be a profound realization that we have greatly erred before God, we had denied God and we had lived in rejection of him. We deserve punishment, but God is more willing to forgive - and forgiveness is what God offers to everyone through Christ.
As a result, a broom will go through your life - there will be positive, godly ongoing changes as you walk a righteous path in life, leaving behind the ungodliness and unrighteous attitudes of the past! Acts 3:19
God is in the life changing business, so was Paul – when people come to God there is even joy in heaven.
Jesus Luke 15:10 ------ I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
And when Christians drift away through false teaching or self-centeredness, there is also great joy in the church when they come back to full fellowship with God.
Paul 2 Corinthians 7:13 ----- In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.
The Corinthians repentance brought Paul a lot of encouragement, and Titus as Paul’s envoy was spiritually refreshed by his visit to the Corinthians and his return visit to Paul. So, there was joy all round! And Paul points out that he has restored confidence in them.
Now having this good news from Corinth and the restored confidence, Paul then brings up the important matter of giving to the need of the church in Jerusalem, which had been going through difficult times. Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:1 had mentioned this gift which had been delayed, but was still needed. Romans 15:25-32. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4. Galatians 2:9-10.
Paul 1 Corinthians 16:1 Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.
But the church was then unhealthy, it’s focus was introverted with problems, and was not able to see the needs of others. But now the church was cleansed and made healthy.
Paul, now having confidence in the Corinthians he gets back to the collection for the saints
Paul 2 Corinthians 8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
This gift for a fellow struggling church may have been due to the over generous giving of the Jerusalem church to others to the point where they needed assistance, or it could have been due to persecution of the Jews towards the Christians at Jerusalem – perhaps due to the growth of the Christians faith, many were excluded and put out of work by the Jews. We are not sure why they needed help, but even poor churches gave generously.
And Paul brings attention to the fact that not only did the Macedonian churches commit themselves to the collection, but they firstly recommitted themselves to the Lord.
The Jerusalem church was seen as the mother church, it was where the apostles had arranged a lot of outreach and church planting in the regions, so it was very appropriate for the regions to assist them – in fact they had an obligation to do so.
This collection is a great example of how Christians are to support each other. We are to support all people in need, but especially Christians.
Paul Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
The good we do may not be money, it may be helping, it may be visitation, it may be fixing/painting/mowing/taking people to appointments – the list is long!
Paul was very keen to give to others in need, the weak. And he uses the words of Jesus as his authority.
Paul Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: `It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
So, from the highest authority – Jesus himself, we are encouraged to give, and for those who have much, Paul has special message.
Paul 1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
God has richly provided us with everything for our enjoyment, so it is fitting that show our gratitude to God in our giving. It is not wrong to be rich, some Christian business people are good at making money - but they are commanded be generous and willing to share.
One of the big changes a person experiences when in a new relationship with Jesus is to become a giver, not a taker. Consider these next verses --
Paul Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Paul 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Paul 1 Timothy 5:8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
It is through these verses, and many more that developed what we know as the ‘Protestant Work Ethic’. 2 Thessalonians 3:10.
This is where in Western Christianized countries, a lot of prosperity was unleased, as people earned the income they desired by honest work. After all it was God who stated in the second Commandment.
God Exodus 20:9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, --
Work is a good word, God blessed it. Doing nothing is not what God planned for mankind.
So, working, earning and giving is all part of God’s plan for humanity - God even had work for Adam and Eve to do in paradise.
So out of Paul’s words we have read today, we see that as individuals we are to give, and as a church we are to give, not grudgingly, but as Paul describes the Macedonian churches ---- for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
Paul is so faithful to Christian giving that he writes the equivalent of two chapters, chapters eight and nine towards this important subject.
Bible scholar, R.Tasker states ‘we have here what might be aptly called a philosophy of Christian giving, which has lessons to teach the Church in every age.’
The New International Commentary on the New Testament. © 1962 Philip E. Hughes. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Page 286.
The Lord is the Lord of you, and your money and your time – serve him with gladness - this is what we were created to do! Ephesians 2:10
Message; and embolden, underlining, and arrangement of Bible text by Evan Digby.
Taken from The HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION © 1973, 1978, by the International Bible Society.