“A Faith Promise Offering” 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 10/15/2006 Dr “A Faith Promise Offering” 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 10/15/2006 Dr. Dane Boyles

“A Faith Promise Offering” Have you ever said or thought to yourself, “If I only had the money, I’d love to give thousands of dollars to support our missionaries all over the world.” The truth is, we may never have thousands of dollars to give away.

“A Faith Promise Offering” But God does! All that He wants is for us to be channels through which He can give so that others might hear the gospel and be saved.

“A Faith Promise Offering” 9 God doesn’t want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). I’d like to remind you of the principle of the “faith-promise offering.”

“A Faith Promise Offering” “A faith promise offering is money that God will give through you; money which He might not ever give to you, if He couldn’t trust you to pass it on to others.”

“A Faith Promise Offering” 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, (2 Cor 8:1-3)

“A Faith Promise Offering” 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. (2 Cor 8:4-5)

“A Faith Promise Offering” 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Cor 8:6-7)

“A Faith Promise Offering” 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Cor 8:8-9)

“A Faith Promise Offering” 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. (2 Cor 8:3) Question: How can one give beyond the limits of his own resources? Answer: Through a “Faith-Promise” offering.

“A Faith Promise Offering” One’s Ability to Give Is not Dependent upon the Size of One’s Bank Account (8:2). The believers in the churches of Macedonia were extremely poor. They were also being persecuted because of their new-found faith in Christ.

“A Faith Promise Offering” 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. (2 Cor 8:2)

“A Faith Promise Offering” This is an equation of sorts…a godly equation. Severe Trial + Poverty + Joy = Rich Generosity In order to have, you have to let go. CONTROL is an illusion…

“A Faith Promise Offering” The Macedonians gave because they had received the grace of God. 7 But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Cor 8:7) Grace + Obedience + Faith = Abundant Life

“A Faith Promise Offering” Your ability to give doesn’t depend upon your bank account but on your faith to give out of your poverty.

“A Faith Promise Offering” 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. (Mark 12:41-42)

“A Faith Promise Offering” 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:43-44)

“A Faith Promise Offering” God’s Giving to us Is often Directly Proportionate to our Giving to Him (2 Cor 9:6) What kind of harvest do we want? 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (2 Cor 9:6)

“A Faith Promise Offering” We give to get to give again. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)

“A Faith Promise Offering” God challenges us to try to out-give Him. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. (Mal 3:10)

“A Faith Promise Offering” All True Giving Begins with the Giving of Ourselves (8:5). It is much easier to give of our things than to give ourselves. It is a matter of Lordship. 23 …“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

“A Faith Promise Offering” This lordship principle is the foundation of discipleship. 33 … any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33) We must release control and allow Christ to be Lord of ALL!

“A Faith Promise Offering” What We Give Proves how Much We Love (8:8). The opposite of love is not hate, it is selfishness. 16 For God so loved the world, that He GAVE... (John 3:16)

“A Faith Promise Offering” 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Cor 8:6-9) If God measures my love for Him by what I’ve given to Him, how great is my love?

“A Faith Promise Offering” The principle of “faith-promise” allows us to demonstrate and give evidence of our love. “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” None of us are exempt from life, from giving and serving. When we think we are, we die.

“A Faith Promise Offering” Conclusion Faith-promise giving is biblical. Our ability to give is not determined by the size of our bank account. But God’s giving to us is often proportionate to our giving. It all begins with giving of ourselves. Our giving proves our love.

“A Faith Promise Offering” 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 10/15/2006 Dr “A Faith Promise Offering” 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 10/15/2006 Dr. Dane Boyles