SUPERNATURAL JOY COMES WITH GIVING

Though the Macedonian churches were very poor, they were full of joy because they were givers. They supernaturally gave because God gave them the grace to give, and they gave beyond their ability. They excelled in giving because they responded to the Father's supernatural grace.2 Corinthians 8:1 (NKJV) Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:The Macedonian churches responded to God's grace by faith and obedience. Whenever the Heavenly Father instructs us to do something, He always gives us the grace to do so. We must respond in faith by obedience and partake of His grace. The Macedonian churches did, regardless of their difficulties and many troubles.2 Corinthians 8:2 (NLT) They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.Though they were very poor and had many troubles, they responded to God's grace of giving and were rich in generosity. Notice that they were not sad when they were richly generous. Instead, they were filled with an abundance of joy. It is not normal for very poor people to give and yet have abundant joy. Since the Lord gave them the grace to give, and as they responded by giving and giving generously, the Lord filled them with an abundance of joy. 2 Corinthians 8:3-4 (NKJV)3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.How did they give beyond their ability? God's grace increased and brought them more to give when they first gave. God's increased grace enabled them to give beyond their ability. The increase in grace brought and supplied beyond what they had. Not only were they rich in generosity, but they were also eager and enthusiastic to give. 2 Corinthians 8:5 (NKJV) And not only as we had hoped, but they gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.The Macedonian churches were filled with abundant joy because they gave themselves to the Lord first, in tithes, offering, and serving Him. Then, they gave themselves to Paul to help him and his companions in their missionary journeys. They also gave to Paul, who went there to collect their offerings to support the Jerusalem church tide through the famine. The Macedonian churches were in extreme poverty, yet they could give beyond what they could and, in return, were filled with the abundance of the joy of the Lord. See, there is a joy of the Lord that comes from giving. They received abundant joy when they offered offerings to help the Jerusalem church. Also, God supplied them beyond what they had, and they had much left over for themselves. He would not just provide for the Jerusalem church and neglect the Macedonians' poverty. The principle of giving and receiving is God's spiritual law of life, and He will not violate His law. He must supply them abundantly with joy and substance.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

奉献会带来超自然的喜乐

尽管马其顿的众教会非常贫穷，但他们仍然充满了喜乐，因为他们是一群乐善好施的人。他们奉献出来的远远超过他们自己的实力，因为神给了他们奉献的恩典，让他们能够超自然地给出去。他们的捐赠格外之多，因为他们回应了天父超自然的恩典。哥林多后书‬8:1 弟兄们，我把　神赐给马其顿众教会的恩告诉你们，马其顿众教会用信心和顺服回应了神的恩典。无论天父在什么时候吩咐我们做什么，祂都会给我们相应的恩典，让我们能把事做成。我们必须凭着信心顺服祂，从而领受祂的恩典。马其顿的众教会就是这样做的，尽管他们也面对很多困难和拦阻。哥林多后书8:2【新普及译本】虽然他们在艰难困苦中经历了许多考验，又极度贫穷，但他们充满了丰沛的喜乐，这喜乐已经从他们慷慨的捐献中涌现了出来。尽管他们极度贫穷，也经受了许多考验，但他们还是慷慨解囊，回应了神奉献的恩典。注意，他们慷慨奉献的时候并没有觉得不开心，相反，他们充满了丰沛的喜乐。一群穷人把钱给了别人，自己还非常喜乐，这是不合常理的。但这是因为主给了他们奉献的恩典，当他们用奉献——而且是慷慨的奉献——来回应主的恩典时，主就让他们充满了丰沛的喜乐。哥林多后书‬8:3-4�3 我可以证明，他们是按着力量，而且也过了力量，自己甘心乐意地捐助， �4 再三地求我们，准他们在这供给圣徒的恩情上有份；他们是怎么“过了力量”捐助的？因为神的恩典加增，给他们带来了更多的收入，好让他们第一次奉献就能拿出那么多。神持续加增的恩典让他们可以超过自己的力量来奉献给别人。恩典的加增让他们得到了超乎所需的供应。他们不但慷慨捐助，而且也是非常热情、非常急切地想要做奉献。哥林多后书‬8:5【新钦定版】并且他们所做的，不但照我们所想望的，更照神的旨意，先把自己献给主，又献给了我们。马其顿众教会充满了丰沛的喜乐，因为他们做十一奉献和各样捐献、服事主的时候，是先把自己献给了主，后来也献给了保罗，尽心尽意地帮助他和他的同工，让他们能顺利完成宣道之旅。耶路撒冷遭遇饥荒的时候，保罗去马其顿收取他们的捐献，他们不但奉献给了耶路撒冷的教会，也给保罗做了奉献。马其顿众教会处于极度的贫穷之中，却仍然可以超过自己的力量来给其他教会做奉献。他们也得到了从主而来的回报，被丰沛的喜乐所充满。由此可见，有一种从主而来的喜乐是通过奉献得着的。他们拿出捐资帮助耶路撒冷的教会，就从主领受了丰沛的喜乐。而且神也大大供应他们，超过他们所需用的，让他们奉献之后余下来的钱也足够自己用。神不会只看顾耶路撒冷教会的需要而忽略马其顿教会的贫穷。奉献与领受的原则是神属灵的生命之律，神不会违背自己定下的律例。祂肯定会用喜乐和财富来充充足足地供应他们的需要。耀光牧师新加坡信心教会请访问我们的中文播客,faithchurch.sg/牧师手札/#牧师手札 ... See MoreSee Less