Sermon # 10 - Riches Of God's Glory Series

Let us look into 2 Corinthians 9:8, “Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work.” (ISV)

As we continue our series of meditations based on the above mentioned verse, we realize that God alone is the source of all the blessings that overflow in our lives.

Last week we meditated on Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. We read in Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (KJV)

Paul had a great revelation of how God could supply our needs according to His riches in glory. This was because Paul understood who God was, and his encounter with the Lord brought about a major transformation in Paul. Everything that he destroyed before he met the Lord, Paul began to build, all that he desired previously he began to shun, and all that he rejected earlier he began to embrace. The church at Philippi stood with Paul, partnered and prayed with him and also gave generously. Their love and service was much appreciated by Paul who thanked them and it was in this context that Paul reminded the church at Philippi that God would certainly supply all of their needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

This is the change that should come in the lives of those of us who have come to know the Lord as our personal Saviour. All those things that we desired before we knew the Lord should be discarded, and everything that we disliked that actually pleased God, we should desire.

However when Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, this was how he wrote.

We read in Ephesians 3:19, “and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” (LEB) and in Ephesians 3:16, “that he may grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person.” (LEB)

This is Paul’s prayer for the church at Ephesus, and we read the entire prayer from Ephesians 3:14-21. We too can pray this prayer.

The love of God surpasses human understanding, and anyone who has experienced this love of God in their lives will see tremendous transformation in their lives. Only those who have comprehended the love of God will be able to move to the next level. The word of God reminds us that in the last days the love of many will grow cold. Every place where love should be evident, it will be found lacking. No wonder Paul says that we have to comprehend the height, depth, length and width of God’s amazing love for us.

There are three parts of the verse that I wish to highlight.

1. Know the love of God

2. Be filled with all the fullness of God

3. Grant you according to the riches of His glory

Firstly, to know God’s love means we realize that Jesus came down to the earth, took the form of a human being, suffered at the hands of sinful man, willingly took on Himself the sins of all mankind, gave up His position in the heavens so He could be our redeemer. For a short while Jesus was separated from the Heavenly Father and that was when He cried, ‘My God, My God why have you forsaken me?’ Secondly, we seek to be filled with the fullness of God. When both of these happen we will be granted overflowing blessings according to the riches of His glory.

• The pitfalls of ignorance

A lot of problems that come to us is because of our ignorance. It is up to us to rid ourselves of ignorance. For example we have a rule that those who ride motorcycles must wear a helmet. If the cop stops us for not wearing a helmet there’s no way anyone can excuse themselves saying they were ignorant that there was such a rule. So also no adult can put their finger in an electric socket, and be ignorant of the fact that it will give them an electric shock. Often we miss out on many good things because of our ignorance, and are unable to live the life that God has called us to live.

We as believers should not be satisfied with just attending church, but must know more about God and grow in the knowledge of God.

The Prophet Hosea said this in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (LEB)

Ephesians 3:19, “and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” (LEB) and in Ephesians 3:16, “that he may grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person.” (LEB)