Giving
To God's Glory
Scripture
reading - Gen.
22:1-2
The
account of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac is a demonstration of FAITH
Gen.
22:3-8 "Where is the sacrificial lamb?" - "God
will provide"
Heb.
11:1 "Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not
seen."
+ Faith
looks ahead to the future
in
hope
- and acts in the present
with trust
Abraham
trusted God by acted in faith
- by looking ahead with hope
This
is how we are tested: Faith put to the test by
exercising trust
Heb.
11:17-19 "By
faith Abraham, when
he was tested,
offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises
offered up his only begotten son. (18) of whom it was
said, 'In Isaac your seed shall be called,' (19) concluding
that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead,
from which he also received him in a figurative sense."
Jas.
2:14-24 "faith was working together with his works, and by
works faith was made perfect."
Our
faith is meaningless unless it is backed by works.
+ Our
faith remains unproved until tested by the challenge of the unknown
AN
APPEAL TO MEET A NEED
1
Cor. 16:1-3 "Now
concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to
the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: (2) On the
first day of the week let each one of you lay something
aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no
collections when I come. (3) And when I come, whomever you
approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to
Jerusalem."
Their
challenge is our example - giving to meet a specific need.
2
Cor. 9:1-5 An admonition to carry out their good intentions
vss.
6-11 God is able to supply you with what you need to meet others'
need
vs.
15 "Thanks be to God for His
indescribable gift!"
Couldn't
God simply supply the need directly to Jerusalem? Yes!
Then
why bless the Corinthians so they
could meet the need?
2
Cor. 8:1-9 It
was a test of the genuineness of their faith
+ Also,
God is glorified through our work of our faith as a result of His
grace
Eph.
2:8-10 "For
by grace you have been saved through
faith,
and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God,
(9) not of works,
lest anyone should boast.
(10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should
walk in them."
+ Faith
is not of works - Works are of faith
Therefore,
God is glorified in our doing that which He made us for - works
Abraham
passed his test - He did not withhold from God.
Gen.
22:9-12 "...now
I know that you fear God"
INVITATION
Has
your giving been tested? Does God know that you fear Him?
Mt.
16:24-26 Are you willing to deny yourself? What will you give up?