Our life and our ministry our only viable if they are in Christ. All else is vain glory – take a look.
2 Corinthians 9: The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem
1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints,
2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.
3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.
4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated---to say nothing of you---for being so confident.
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
The Cheerful Giver
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 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.
9 As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
2 Corinthians 10: Paul Defends His Ministry
1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ---I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!---
2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.
8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.
9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters.
10 For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account."
11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.
12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
13 But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.
14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.
15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labours of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged,
16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence.
17 "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Things to think about…
1. What a cunning man the Apostle Paul was. He told the Macedonians that those in Archaia (Corinth) had promised a gift (which they did a year ago). Paul now applies, not guilt, but a sense of duty that they honour the word that they gave at that time. Titus and the other preacher mentioned in chap 8 would be there to collect what Paul says would be “a willing gift, not as an exaction”, 2 Cor 9:5. Is this manipulation or godly accountability? Paul challenges their conscience in any event. Again, we should let our ‘yes’, be ‘yes’.
2. Paul reminds the Corinthians that we reap what we sow. Some people are stingy with their time, money and spiritual gifts and as such, they are shallow stingy Christians. Paul says that Christ’s grace abounds to us, therefore we should abound in good works, 2Cor 9:8. Part of this good work is a giving heart – in all its forms. If you struggle with giving, you are probably quite spiritually weak as well – don’t be offended, this is the reap/sow law. Paul says such a miserly person misses out on seeing the Lord’s miraculous provision, vss 9&10.
3. Look at 2 Cor 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” How should we respond to this? God gave all through Christ, surely a heart of thanks and praise would suggest we must give all to Christ.
4. In 2Cor 10 Paul says his authority comes from God and God’s power is mighty to destroy strongholds., vs 5. Every argument is destroyed and every thought (not just ours) is held captive to Christ. We get a lot of ‘sound bites’, that are simply humanistic, illogical and frankly offensive to Christ. Let’s not accept them, but boldly speak out against them. To ignore them makes the church ineffective and its message impotent. Just yesterday I put an ad on Facebook for a Youth Coordinator. It apparently violates their policies. They are however happy to take money off us to advertise a Carols service. Not that the ad worked…but you get the point. We must stand against strongholds that are anti-Christian.
5. What do we commend, what do we boast in, 2 Cor 10:12-18? Paul initially brought the gospel to Corinth. He wants them to grow in their faith so he can present the gospel to other places, vss 15, 16. Some were boasting in themselves, vs 12. Paul’s point is that we don’t exalt ourselves, but the message. Christ’s servants are nothing, but Christ the suffering servant is everything. We are exhorted to boast in Him, 2Cor 10:17.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups on break.
Prayer Points
1. Planning for this year’s preaching topics and roster.
2. Those returning from holidays.
3. Victorian parliament discussing gay conversion therapy, antichristian bill next month.
3. America. Pray for truth, grace and peace. Especially the next 2 weeks.
4. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
5. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
Praise Points.
1. Able to stream with the lockdown. Thanks Rin
2. First Café roof drawings have been completed.
3. All those who served in 2020 – Especially Dan Anderson, Helen and Steve Hawkins , Angelo, Rod and muso’s, Murray Aitchison, Yuki and many, many others. Thankyou. The elders and their families have been a great support to me this last year.
