Releasing Material And Financial Prosperity Series

DATE: July 01, 2001

TEXT: I Corinthians 9:5-15

THEME: "Releasing Material & Financial Productivity"

INTRODUCTION

The historical background:

BODY

I. WE RELEASE MATERIAL AND FINANCIAL PRODUCTIVITY BY SOWING SEEDS OF GIVING (II Cor. 5:5, 7)

II. UNPRODUCTIVE SEED – HOW WE SHOULD NOT GIVE

A. Not every gift is of equal value. Not all seed is productive. God is not impressed by size but by sincerity.

B. Grudgingly (v. 5) “not of covetousness” (KJV) pleonexia – “greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice”

C. Sparingly (v. 6) feidomenwv “to spare, to abstain, to refrain i.e. with restraint”

D. Reluctantly (v. 7) ek luph “grudgingly” (KJV) – “out of sorrow, sadness, pain, grief, heaviness, annoyance” (used of persons in mourning)

E. Under compulsion (v. 7) “of necessity” (KJV) anagkh – “necessity, imposed either by the circumstances, or by law of duty regarding to one’s advantage, custom, argument”

III. PRODUCTIVE SEED – HOW WE SHOULD GIVE

A. Generously (vv. 5, 6,11) “bountifully” (KJV) epi eulogia “unto a blessing” invocation of a blessing, benefit, consecration. Why? The principle of sowing and reaping.

B. Willingly (v. 7) “what he has decided (as he purposeth) in his heart” (Exod. 35)

C. Cheerfully (v. 7) ilarov “cheerful, joyous, prompt to do anything”

IV. WHAT OUR GIVING DOES

A. It is an act of service (v. 12a) leitourgia - a public office which a citizen undertakes to administer at his own expense, of the service of workmen, a service or ministry of the priests relative to the prayers and sacrifices offered to God

B. It supplies the needs of God’s people and God’s work (12b)

C. It expresses our thanks to God (12c, N.B. v. 15)

D. It is ministry (v. 13) diakonia “service, ministration” (KJV) - ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others, the ministration of those who render to others the offices of Christian affection esp. those who help meet need by either collecting or distributing of charities

E. It glorifies God (v. 13b)

V. GOD’S PROMISE OF PRODUCTIVITY

A. God’s generous return “…will also reap generously.” (v. 6b) (cf. III. F) Luke 6:38

B. God’s sufficiency (v. 8) “..in all things at all times having all that you need….” autarkeia – “a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed, sufficiency of the necessities of life, a mind contented with its lot, contentment.”

C. God’s supply (v. 10a) ‘supply seed, minister bread” (KJV) corhgew – “to be a chorus leader, lead a chorus; to furnish the chorus at one’s own expense; to procure and supply all things necessary to fit out a chorus; to supply, furnish abundantly”

D. God’s increase (v. 10b) “increase your store of seed” - multiply

E. God’s enlargement of our harvest (10c) auxanw - to cause to grow, augment, to increase, become greater

F. God’s enrichment (v. 11) ploutizw - to make rich, enrich (of spiritual riches), to be richly furnished

CONCLUSION