SCRIPTURE: 2Corinthians (NIV) 9:11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
OBSERVATION: What a special chapter on the blessings of giving, however it should be noted that Paul was not presenting this truth to motivate people to give to him or his ministry. He was in Macedonia (Philippi) writing to the believers in Corinth about sending some financial help to the believers in Jerusalem who were experiencing a time of famine.
My personal application of this chapter to the SOAP ministry: God is the one who started this SOAP ministry. I started not because I wanted to, but because He told me to write the SOAPs. I consider myself blessed to be a part of HIS ministry. Since the ministry is HIS, after all it is HIS word that is being presented, …since it is HIS, I expect Him to provide the necessary finances. There should be no pressure from anyone in the SOAP ministry trying to convince anyone to give. If convincing is needed, that is the job of our senior partner, the Holy Spirit.
APPLICATION: When you give in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit, give in faith. First: have faith that God is blest in your giving. Second: have faith that God will use what you give to meet a need. Third: have faith that your giving is a seed that will produce fruit. Fourth: have faith that your seed will cause others to give praise to God. Fifth: have faith that God will bring blessing back into your life. Note verse 11 above. Expect to experience the joy of giving. Expect to experience the satisfaction of being a key part of a ministry team even though you are not physically present with the team!
PRAYER: Lord, teach us how to participate in ministry through praying and giving. Show us how important the support ministries are to what you are doing. Amen.
Pastor Leon
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