2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15

(1) Bukod dito, mga kapatid, ay ipinatatalastas namin sa inyo ang biyaya ng Dios na ipinagkaloob sa mga
iglesia ng Macedonia;
(2) Kung paanong sa maraming pagsubok sa kapighatian ang kasaganaan ng kanilang katuwaan at ang
kanilang malabis na karukhaan ay sumagana sa kayamanan ng kanilang kagandahang-loob.
(3) Sapagka't ayon sa kanilang kaya, ay nagpapatotoo ako at higit pa sa kanilang kaya, ay nagsiabuloy sila
sa sariling kalooban,
(4) Na lubhang ipinamamanhik sa amin ang tungkol sa biyayang ito at sa pakikisama sa pangangasiwa ng
mga abuloy sa mga banal:
(5) At ito, ay hindi ayon sa aming inaasahan, kundi ibinigay muna nila ang kanilang sarili sa Panginoon, at
sa amin sa pamamagitan ng kalooban ng Dios.

THE MONTH OF GIVING BEYOND OUR POWER

1. Think of your regular Tithes and Offerings
2. Fix a certain amount in your hearts above the Tithes and pray to the Lord about it
3. Earn and save this amount
4. Give this sacrificial amount on the anniversary of BCA

2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15
(1) Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
(2) How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto
the riches of their liberality.
(3) For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
(4) Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the
ministering to the saints.
(5) And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of
God.

1. The willingness to give beyond our power is not for everybody

a. It is a grace of God bestowed not commanded
b. Since it is grace given, it is after being saved by grace through faith. Phil. 1:29.
c. The unsaved may try to do it, may succeed but they will boast of it
d. The saved will receive grace to do it, and will grow into more maturity
i. They will care less for the things of this world and more for things above
ii. They will esteem God’s favor better than man’s praise
iii. God will use them more and bless them more
1. Blessings are always both spiritually and materially
2. All blessings are showered according to God’s timetable
2. Giving does not always involve money
a. We can give many things away to many people that does not involve money
b. We can give away property, books, land, inheritance, house, food
c. We can give away comfort, space, sleep, convenience,
d. We can give away work, position, influence, dignity, self-esteem
e. We can give away our spouses and children (to the mission field)
f. We can give away our life (to stand for the truth and honor of Christ)
3. Giving beyond our power means giving in spite of
a. Great trial of affliction
i. Grace is mightier than Sickness and Persecution (Illustration: JONI TADA)
ii. Sickness and trials in life should not cause you to stop being a blessing to others
b. Deep poverty
 i. Grace is mightier than poverty
ii. Being jobless, no savings, lots of things lacking should not stop you
c. Only by God’s grace can someone give generously while in deep poverty and affliction

4. Giving beyond our power means giving with

a. Abundance of joy
i. How much do you give away to your friends and family when you are happy?
ii. How much do you spend for yourself when you are happy?
b. Riches of liberality
i. How much would you give away if you knew that thousands are in need and there is
not enough resources to draw from?
ii. How much would you give away if you knew that fresh supplies would come to you
the next month anyway?
5. Giving beyond your power is completed by PLEADING WITH the church to receive YOUR gift
a. This is what makes it extra ordinary, other churches tell foolish stories to raise funds
b. Other churches appeal to the flesh and pride to raise funds
c. This kind of giving is so shocking to the church leaders that the first reaction is to refuse
d. The giver then finds a way to persuade the church to accept the gift
6. Giving beyond our power begins by first giving our own selves to the Lord and to the church
a. You can’t do this if you are not saved
b. You can’t do this if you have not given your own self to the Lord
c. You can’t do this if you do not believe this is a true church of our Lord
d. You can only do this if you consider yourself dead and all you have as God’s