I am inspired to preach our text on 2 Corinthians 8:9 because of this verse also penned by Paul in Ephesians 3:8 “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ…”
The unsearchable riches of Christ! What are the unsearchable riches of Christ? I searched up the concordance and looked up every verse that mentions riches and Jesus, and found some amazing things. A reminder to let us have this caution... that how much we unpack, unearth some of these unsearchable riches of Christ, we’ll only scratch the surface. We’re going to see only limited riches, because it would still be not enough on how amazing Jesus is, and how generous He is with us. The riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge are so deep we could never plumb the depths, so infinite we could never track them to the end. But for the meantime, it would be sufficient for us... I hope by the end you’ll be saying with Paul, “Oh, the depth of the riches of Jesus! They’re unsearchable!”
This is the reason why I like to exhort from this text.
“You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty He could make you rich.” ( 2 Corinthians 8:9NLT )
There is an unknown to be known, an X-factor in all believers of our Lord Jesus! When I searched the google, they defined The X-factor as a variable in a given situation that could have the most significant impact on the outcome. For, “You know the generous grace...” Know what? The unknown grace, the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ. “The exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!
And so, our topic for today is the factor in our situation being Christians, an X to be solve, an unknown to be known that would be relevant once revealed, which could change our ordinary, mundane religious life into a very exciting, significant impact on our future, our family, our finances, our focus....
Let us solve it.
Let:
Deuteronomy 29:29
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.”
Colossians 1:26
“...that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,”
Are you ready?
This verse ( 2 Corinthians 8:9 ) is the story of Jesus Christ, from riches to poverty. This is the story of every believer, from poverty to riches. Christ is here, in this verse, revealed, and so are we.
I- eXceeding riches of CHRIST
Ephesians 3:16-20
Colossians 2:2
These eXceeding riches is what the Apostle John had clarified as he wrote; “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” John is saying these not only on the soul and physical aspect but more so on concerning all things" so in all respects compare 1Pe 4:8 and Matthew 6:33 of our Lord’s discourse. Of course, since his soul's prosperity is presupposed, "above all things" does not imply that John wishes Gaius' bodily health above that of his soul, but as the first object to be desired next after spiritual health. Apostle John meant to say that “I know you are prospering in the concerns of your soul. I wish you similar prosperity in your body. Perhaps John had heard from the brethren (3Jo 3) that Gaius was in bad health, and was tried in other ways (3Jo 10), to which the wish, 3Jo 2, refers.
I want that to be clear because of the teaching of some in the faith and prosperity movement wherein this verse is commonly used.
In fact, Apostle Paul had warned Timothy about these in 1 Timothy 6:5 “who suppose that godliness is a means of gain”
(see also, 2 Pet. 2:14-15)
At the very least, it’s dangerous when a Christian’s material prosperity gets ahead of his spiritual prosperity. Paul warned (1 Tim. 6:9-10), “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
In my years of Christian life, prosperity and blessings for me is balance:
Blessings is:
#1 Spiritual first (Matthew 6:33) whereby the Kingdom of God is foremost and then all things that we are looking and seeking for will be added unto us. If we continue to get right with God and His righteousness then blessing #2 which is Emotional Blessing comes next as we learn to understand people and forgive people just as Jesus had understood and forgiven us. Remember we can not give what we don’t have. We received forgiveness from the Cross? We can freely give understanding and forgiveness to others!
#3 Physical Blessings; this is what Apostle John is referring to in his letter to Gaius. You can also read my preaching on “Living a Balanced Life” of a Christian. For more of this information. Lastly,
#4 Material and Financial Blessings; where many put much attention. It is the least of all blessings but ironically this is what most believers put much seeking, pouring their hearts earnings to get, to acquire. Early in their offices and works but late in Church services....
Remember that we worship on the FIRST day of the week, that our spirit and soul and body, material needs and finances (tithes and offerings given) be rested on that FIRST DAY. This is blessing!
Let us seek and rest on God first and let God do the adding for us!
HalleluJah!
The X factors second formula is:
II- eXchange at the CROSS
Exchange according to Merriam Dictionary is the act of giving or taking one thing in return for another, funds payable currently at a distant point either in a foreign currency or in domestic currency. So, we Filipinos, use as a medium of exchange to buy here in our Country, the Peso. We can not use our Peso in the U.S., we must exchange our Peso to the U.S.Dollar. Same as in the Cross. Once you accepted Jesus, our doorway is the Cross, we exchange our depravity with His riches!
Let us again repeat, what Paul had said to Timothy... “But THOSE WHO WANT TO GET RICH” fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Those who want to get rich....
So don’t aspire to get rich, queuing and buying Lotto tickets, sweepstakes tickets, and different forms of get rich schemes. Take note of this Christians! DON’T ASPIRE TO BE RICH! Wow! So, let us remain poor then? Let’s continue to be depraved then?
Wrong! May it not be! So what now?!
An X of a formula is given to us by Jesus.
I can cite and give you simple formula for this factor by means of these verses which I like you to read in the Message Bible; “How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on Him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.” ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 )
#1 Righteousness:
Mindset is changed (Romans 12:1-2)
Citizenship
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;” Ephesians 3:20
this is the most important thing. An eXchange happened at the cross when we accepted Jesus in our life. Our self-righteousness with His righteousness. Everything will be secondary...
#2 Relationship
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as His own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15)
#3 Riches:
“You KNOW the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ”
IT IS IN THE KNOWING THE GENEROUS GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
HOW?
Philippians 3:10 Amp.
[For my determined purpose is]
that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly],
and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers],
and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
“There is little doubt that almost all Christians are content to have won Christ and thus to have received the gift of eternal life. But how many are equally concerned to know him? How often we cut Jesus in half, wishing to know that we are saved and that all is well with our destiny, but forgetting that to be truly saved means we must truly know him!”
– Mark Jones, Knowing Christ, pp. 2-3
“....so that by His poverty HE COULD MAKE YOU RICH.”
( 2 Corinthians 8:9NLT )
In knowing our Lord, we realise that God Himself wants us to be rich!
So that in the eXchange, we may get the premium of the unsearchable riches of Christ…”
In Knowing Jesus God Himself could make us rich.
Not us but God!
If we aspire to be rich we fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men and women into ruin and destruction.
KNOW JESUS, GOD HIMSELF WOULD MAKE US RICH IN ALL KINDS OF BLESSINGS! Amen.
III- eXtraOrdinary CHRISTians:
The eXtramile is the eXtraOrdinary Living of CHRISTians!
This last point is the total of the first two points I have mentioned.
eXceeding Riches of Christ plus eXchange at the Cross equals eXtraordinary living for us CHRISTians. Imagine happening to us now the promises of our houses will be richly stocked with goods we did not produce. We will draw water from cisterns we did not dig, and we will eat from vineyards and olive trees we did not plant. We will eat our fill in the land. No wonder the prosperity Gospel became popular nowadays. But out of context as I have said... the Lord whom we serve had balanced everything in the blessing.
Deut. 8:18 NiV
“But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”
“The rich must not boast in his riches.
But the one who boasts should boast in this,
that he understands and knows me—
that I am the LORD, showing faithful love,
justice, and righteousness on the earth,
for I delight in these things.
This is the LORD’s declaration.” (Jer. 9:23-24; HCSB)
I think we have solved the X-factor of Christians!
* eXceeding Riches of Christ
* eXchange at the Cross
* eXtra Ordinary Christians
“Peace I leave (bequeathed) with you, My peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John14:27
Amen!
0852am07october2018sunday@DoJpowerHouse!
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