100:00:00,920 –> 00:00:08,960Here’s what to keep in mind when you’re making decisions200:00:09,000 –> 00:00:12,500about your own giving300:00:12,540 –> 00:00:21,080Remember this, whoever sows sparingly, will also reap sparingly400:00:21,080 –> 00:00:28,840and whoever sows generously, notice that word, will also reap generously500:00:28,879 –> 00:00:32,299Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick600:00:32,340 –> 00:00:35,459Glad you could join us today, and Colin we’re in the middle of a series called700:00:35,500 –> 00:00:41,299A Generous Life. And we’ve been hearing from 2 Corinthians, chapters 8 and 9800:00:41,340 –> 00:00:46,299the biblical principles that come from these chapters and how they apply to us900:00:46,340 –> 00:00:50,299yeah and it’s all about being a reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ1000:00:50,340 –> 00:00:54,000who though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor1100:00:54,040 –> 00:00:56,500so that through his poverty we might become rich1200:00:56,880 –> 00:01:03,500Everything in the Christian life is really a reflection of the life of Jesus growing in us1300:01:03,540 –> 00:01:07,220That’s why I think it’s unhelpful to set down rules for giving1400:01:07,260 –> 00:01:08,720You got to do this, you see1500:01:08,760 –> 00:01:14,480That reduces the generous spirit that is at the heart of the New Testament1600:01:14,519 –> 00:01:19,300to some kind of requirement that ends up feeling like it’s imposed1700:01:19,339 –> 00:01:21,639And that’s never the way of the New Testament1800:01:21,680 –> 00:01:25,059It’s the life of Christ in you1900:01:25,059 –> 00:01:28,139And that growing, and therefore there being joy in this2000:01:28,180 –> 00:01:30,419It’s not, what do I have to do?2100:01:30,459 –> 00:01:32,459It’s, what would Christ have me do?2200:01:32,500 –> 00:01:38,879And what would be a worthy reflection of His spirit really living in me?2300:01:38,919 –> 00:01:42,639Today’s message has a really practical application along those lines2400:01:42,680 –> 00:01:45,760So join us if you can, in 2 Corinthians, Chapter 92500:01:45,800 –> 00:01:48,639as we begin a message A Generous Reward2600:01:48,720 –> 00:01:50,419Here is Pastor Colin2700:01:50,459 –> 00:01:54,839This is the last in our short series that we’ve called A Generous Life2800:01:55,099 –> 00:01:58,199We’ve been dealing with issues relating to giving2900:01:58,239 –> 00:02:01,660and we’re doing that at Christmas for this very specific reason3000:02:02,699 –> 00:02:06,300That Christmas is about the self-giving of God3100:02:06,959 –> 00:02:11,660And when the New Testament applies the self-giving of God3200:02:11,699 –> 00:02:14,399into the lives of Christian believers3300:02:14,440 –> 00:02:16,179this is how the New Testament does it3400:02:16,240 –> 00:02:19,559In 2 Corinthians, Chapter 8, in verse 93500:02:19,600 –> 00:02:22,360You know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ3600:02:22,679 –> 00:02:24,860We are Christians, we who know the Lord3700:02:24,919 –> 00:02:28,199We know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives3800:02:29,240 –> 00:02:30,860And what that grace meant for him3900:02:30,899 –> 00:02:33,880was that though he was rich yet for our sakes he became poor4000:02:33,919 –> 00:02:37,139so that we through his poverty might become rich4100:02:37,580 –> 00:02:42,240And Paul applies that great theme of the Christmas message4200:02:42,500 –> 00:02:46,500to Christian believers in Corinth and therefore to us today4300:02:46,539 –> 00:02:51,520by speaking to us of what it means to live a generous life4400:02:52,360 –> 00:02:54,559Now, a quick review of what we’ve learned4500:02:54,839 –> 00:02:58,320Perhaps the most important takeaway from this series4600:02:58,559 –> 00:03:02,080The single thing that I would want us to remember a year from now4700:03:02,940 –> 00:03:06,940would be that Paul moves this whole matter of giving4800:03:07,520 –> 00:03:12,360out of the world of law and into the world of grace4900:03:12,800 –> 00:03:15,119because Christian giving, New Testament giving5000:03:15,179 –> 00:03:18,820is always a response to grace5100:03:19,100 –> 00:03:23,059It is a reflection of the self-giving of the Lord Jesus Christ5200:03:23,539 –> 00:03:27,600Remember, nobody forced Jesus to come into the world5300:03:28,699 –> 00:03:31,139Nobody put pressure on Him, no one ever could5400:03:31,899 –> 00:03:33,960The Lord Jesus came freely5500:03:34,559 –> 00:03:37,020and the Lord Jesus came joyfully5600:03:37,639 –> 00:03:40,399that is how He has given Himself to us5700:03:40,720 –> 00:03:43,500and therefore giving that reflects His grace5800:03:43,740 –> 00:03:46,199must be marked by freedom5900:03:46,380 –> 00:03:48,339therefore there are to be no rules about it6000:03:48,580 –> 00:03:50,320and it must be marked by joy6100:03:50,320 –> 00:03:52,320God loves a cheerful giver6200:03:52,520 –> 00:03:54,380and therefore it’s very significant6300:03:54,479 –> 00:03:57,240and perhaps this has come as a surprise to some of us6400:03:57,660 –> 00:03:59,5002 Corinthians 8 and verse 86500:03:59,500 –> 00:04:03,320Paul refuses to make any rule in the church6600:04:03,320 –> 00:04:05,179about Christian giving6700:04:05,979 –> 00:04:07,419He could have said as an apostle6800:04:07,600 –> 00:04:09,399now all of you folks have to give 10%6900:04:09,740 –> 00:04:12,820could have made an argument from the Old Testament on that basis7000:04:13,059 –> 00:04:15,759But he says very specifically Chapter 8 and verse 87100:04:15,960 –> 00:04:17,859I am not commanding you7200:04:18,119 –> 00:04:18,619Why?7300:04:18,859 –> 00:04:21,600Because he wants to move the whole matter of giving7400:04:21,839 –> 00:04:23,299out of the world of law7500:04:23,459 –> 00:04:26,140and into the world of grace where it belongs7600:04:26,200 –> 00:04:27,040because7700:04:27,839 –> 00:04:29,420what is at stake here7800:04:30,059 –> 00:04:32,779is not simply the amount that is given7900:04:33,540 –> 00:04:35,679but the heart of the givers8000:04:36,299 –> 00:04:39,320What really matters is that we become increasingly8100:04:39,320 –> 00:04:40,519like the Lord Jesus8200:04:40,760 –> 00:04:42,679who loved us and gave Himself for us8300:04:42,820 –> 00:04:43,959and did it freely8400:04:44,320 –> 00:04:45,579and did it8500:04:46,140 –> 00:04:46,859joyfully8600:04:47,619 –> 00:04:48,859And so for that reason8700:04:48,859 –> 00:04:50,540we have been learning Christian freedom8800:04:51,760 –> 00:04:53,859Giving always marked by freedom and joy8900:04:54,380 –> 00:04:57,600and it’s really set out for us in chapter 9 and verse 79000:04:58,160 –> 00:04:59,440Here is how it should happen9100:04:59,940 –> 00:05:00,799Each man9200:05:01,579 –> 00:05:02,399Each of us9300:05:02,480 –> 00:05:04,559who knows the grace of the Lord Jesus9400:05:05,040 –> 00:05:08,559we should give what we have decided in our hearts to give9500:05:09,540 –> 00:05:12,500And no one is to do this reluctantly Paul says9600:05:12,920 –> 00:05:15,200Nobody is to do it under compulsion9700:05:15,579 –> 00:05:21,140because God loves a cheerful giver9800:05:22,220 –> 00:05:23,920So we decide in our hearts9900:05:24,459 –> 00:05:27,420and now that we know that the principle is not law but grace10000:05:27,899 –> 00:05:31,079Now that we know God has given us this wonderful liberty10100:05:31,320 –> 00:05:34,540to grow in generosity as we decide in our own hearts10200:05:34,540 –> 00:05:37,140what we want to give with freedom and with joy10300:05:38,220 –> 00:05:40,700The obvious question is well, how do you decide?10400:05:41,980 –> 00:05:44,100How then, do you decide10500:05:44,859 –> 00:05:46,859what to give10600:05:46,859 –> 00:05:48,500And what?10700:05:48,500 –> 00:05:50,500to keep10800:05:50,559 –> 00:05:54,320Well that very practical matter is the subject that Paul10900:05:54,839 –> 00:05:59,119Focuses on in the last part of chapter 9 and that’s where we are today11000:05:59,119 –> 00:06:03,480And there’re really two questions and then one marvelous application11100:06:03,739 –> 00:06:08,880The two questions are simply what should I give given that it’s a matter of freedom and joy11200:06:09,459 –> 00:06:13,640What should guide your decision my decision about what we give11300:06:14,160 –> 00:06:19,279And then the second question is what will I receive because Paul speaks clearly here of great rewards11400:06:19,660 –> 00:06:22,420That come to those who grow in generosity11500:06:22,420 –> 00:06:29,600And then we’re going to see the supreme example of this giving and of this great reward in our Lord Jesus Christ11600:06:30,920 –> 00:06:33,779So first then what should I give verse 6?11700:06:34,459 –> 00:06:35,920Paul says11800:06:35,920 –> 00:06:37,920remember this11900:06:39,339 –> 00:06:43,100Now he’s talking about when you’re thinking about what to give12000:06:43,779 –> 00:06:45,779You’re deciding what to keep12100:06:45,839 –> 00:06:49,959You’re deciding what to give here’s what to keep in mind12200:06:50,880 –> 00:06:55,480When you’re making decisions about your own giving12300:06:56,700 –> 00:06:58,700remember this12400:06:58,799 –> 00:07:00,799Whoever so sparingly12500:07:01,619 –> 00:07:04,220will also reap sparingly and12600:07:05,200 –> 00:07:07,000whoever Sews12700:07:07,000 –> 00:07:10,000generously, notice that word, will also reap12800:07:11,079 –> 00:07:12,299generously12900:07:12,299 –> 00:07:17,559In other words Paul says think of everything that God has given to you in this world13000:07:18,000 –> 00:07:23,940in the same way as a farmer would think about a great pile of seed and13100:07:24,760 –> 00:07:29,519When the farmer has a great pile of seed in the barn, there are two things he can do with it13200:07:30,179 –> 00:07:33,079He can grind it into flour and he can make bread13300:07:34,179 –> 00:07:36,480Or he can sow it in the field13400:07:37,079 –> 00:07:39,459and raise a harvest next year13500:07:40,859 –> 00:07:42,859Obviously, he’s going to do both13600:07:43,480 –> 00:07:47,940but he has to make a decision how much seed will he keep for bread and13700:07:48,220 –> 00:07:52,040How much seed will he sow in the ground?13800:07:52,540 –> 00:07:59,480And Paul is using this very very simple picture to say that’s precisely how you should be thinking, how we should be thinking13900:07:59,760 –> 00:08:03,279about the decisions we make with regards to our money14000:08:03,839 –> 00:08:06,480Now says, Paul, here’s what you should think about14100:08:07,200 –> 00:08:09,200Whoever sows14200:08:09,320 –> 00:08:12,019sparingly will also reap14300:08:13,040 –> 00:08:14,480sparingly14400:08:14,480 –> 00:08:18,679So here’s farmer Joe, and he’s a very cautious farmer14500:08:18,679 –> 00:08:19,660and14600:08:19,660 –> 00:08:25,320he looks at his pile of seed in the barn and he says, well No, my them the winter is coming and14700:08:25,799 –> 00:08:27,839it’s going to be very long and14800:08:28,320 –> 00:08:30,880I’m going to need a lot of bread14900:08:31,660 –> 00:08:35,679so I need to keep as much of the seed as I can and15000:08:36,000 –> 00:08:42,780So he takes just a very small amount and he sets it aside to be sown in the ground for next year15100:08:43,760 –> 00:08:45,760He sows sparingly15200:08:48,119 –> 00:08:50,179Down the road is Farmer15300:08:50,179 –> 00:08:55,799Bob and farmer Bob has the same pile of seed and he looks at it in his barn15400:08:55,840 –> 00:09:01,239And he says the summer is coming and I want next year to have a great harvest15500:09:02,159 –> 00:09:04,520so I must so as much as I15600:09:04,840 –> 00:09:11,739Possibly can so he keeps what he needs for the winter so that he may have sufficient bread for his needs15700:09:12,659 –> 00:09:14,859But he soars everything else15800:09:16,039 –> 00:09:17,880He sews15900:09:17,880 –> 00:09:19,219generously16000:09:19,219 –> 00:09:22,840now these two farmers with the same pile of seed have made different16100:09:23,340 –> 00:09:30,419Decisions about how they allocate the seed that has been trusted to them and Paul’s making the very obvious point16200:09:30,760 –> 00:09:34,140That these different decisions will have very different outcomes16300:09:34,859 –> 00:09:36,859one year on16400:09:37,099 –> 00:09:44,880When the summer comes the one who sowed spareingly reaps sparingly and when the summer comes the one who’s so generously16500:09:45,700 –> 00:09:46,960reaps16600:09:46,960 –> 00:09:52,780Generously so the first thing that Paul says is remember when you’re thinking about this whole matter of giving16700:09:53,260 –> 00:09:55,359That you will reap what you16800:09:56,039 –> 00:09:57,280sow16900:09:57,280 –> 00:10:04,400Now let’s follow Paul’s very simple picture here, and let’s look at it a year later17000:10:05,880 –> 00:10:09,619Farmer Joe and farmer Bob come into their barn17100:10:10,900 –> 00:10:12,900farmer Joe now has a17200:10:13,659 –> 00:10:21,520Smaller pile of seed than he had before because he sold sparingly and he has reaped sparingly and the pile has gone down17300:10:22,039 –> 00:10:29,140And he looks at his diminished pile of seed and he says my this has been a terrible year17400:10:30,200 –> 00:10:32,200Much less than I had last year17500:10:32,820 –> 00:10:36,520The winter is long and I’m going to need more bread this year17600:10:36,640 –> 00:10:40,859and I must therefore keep as much seed as I possibly can and17700:10:41,359 –> 00:10:45,059So he has an even smaller amount of seeds to sow17800:10:45,679 –> 00:10:47,679for next year17900:10:48,400 –> 00:10:53,359Farmer Bob comes into his barn and looks at an increased pile of seed and and18000:10:53,640 –> 00:10:54,880Says this is a18100:10:54,880 –> 00:11:00,979Remarkable way in which God has blessed me in this last year and I’m looking towards next summer and I want to see an even18200:11:00,979 –> 00:11:05,460Greater harvest so I will sow next year as much as I possibly can18300:11:05,460 –> 00:11:10,179And so again, he keeps just what he needs for the winter and he sows18400:11:10,700 –> 00:11:12,700everything else18500:11:13,539 –> 00:11:16,479Now you see the pattern of the picture that Paul is18600:11:16,979 –> 00:11:21,460is painting there are now two patterns of life that18700:11:22,159 –> 00:11:24,159are emerging from18800:11:25,299 –> 00:11:27,719decisions that were made and18900:11:28,260 –> 00:11:34,900Continue to be made that reflects more or less the character of our Lord Jesus Christ19000:11:35,559 –> 00:11:37,559So there’s a second truth here19100:11:37,559 –> 00:11:39,559Not only do we reap what we sow19200:11:39,760 –> 00:11:45,359But God calls us to sow what we reap the seed that’s in the barn has itself been reaped19300:11:45,619 –> 00:11:52,020It has been given by God and notice verse 10. Whatever God gives to you is for two purposes19400:11:53,119 –> 00:11:55,119God supplies verse 1019500:11:55,380 –> 00:11:57,380seed for the sower and19600:11:58,559 –> 00:11:59,919Bread19700:11:59,919 –> 00:12:01,219for food19800:12:01,219 –> 00:12:04,900In other words if you think of everything that God has given to you19900:12:04,900 –> 00:12:09,099And I think of everything that God has given to me this month and this year20000:12:10,260 –> 00:12:13,940God has given this to us. However much or little it is for two purposes20100:12:14,619 –> 00:12:19,799Some of it is bread for food and some of it is seed20200:12:20,359 –> 00:12:21,960for sowing20300:12:21,960 –> 00:12:22,760in other words20400:12:22,760 –> 00:12:29,280What we’re learning here is that God supplies what you need to live and God supplies what you need20500:12:29,880 –> 00:12:31,640to give20600:12:31,640 –> 00:12:35,559So think about the money that you have received this month this year20700:12:36,440 –> 00:12:42,320Some of it was bread for food. That is it was for spending it was for saving it was for using it was for living20800:12:43,140 –> 00:12:45,900Some of it is seed for the sower20900:12:46,760 –> 00:12:49,859God gave it to you forgiving for sowing and21000:12:50,479 –> 00:12:52,479for scattering21100:12:52,500 –> 00:13:00,159the question that each of us faces on a continuing basis in our life is how we divide our seed what we keep and21200:13:01,059 –> 00:13:02,739what we so and21300:13:02,739 –> 00:13:09,000Paul says just remember as you’re thinking about this because it is a matter of Christian liberty and it’s to be done with freedom and with21400:13:09,000 –> 00:13:15,460Joy, but remember this that whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly and whoever sows generously21500:13:16,099 –> 00:13:18,099will reap21600:13:18,320 –> 00:13:20,380Generously, what should I give?21700:13:21,400 –> 00:13:24,400There’s the counsel of the apostle Paul21800:13:25,239 –> 00:13:30,260You’re listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called a generous reward21900:13:30,260 –> 00:13:37,039It’s the final message in our series a generous life based on two Corinthians chapters eight and nine22000:13:37,280 –> 00:13:39,119If you’ve missed any of the series22100:13:39,119 –> 00:13:44,619Then it’s easy to catch up or go back and listen again when you come to our website on open22200:13:44,640 –> 00:13:48,140The Bible dot org dot UK or if you prefer a podcast22300:13:48,840 –> 00:13:53,239Go to your favorite podcast site and search therefore. Open the Bible UK22400:13:54,059 –> 00:13:57,099Back to the message now here again is pastor Colin22500:13:57,679 –> 00:13:59,679Now, here’s the second question22600:14:00,000 –> 00:14:02,000What will I receive?22700:14:02,840 –> 00:14:07,239Now if you have your Bible open in front of you because these verses of Scripture22800:14:08,039 –> 00:14:10,280contain some marvelous promises22900:14:11,440 –> 00:14:13,440That have been horribly23000:14:13,719 –> 00:14:15,119abused23100:14:15,119 –> 00:14:17,320by some Christian teachers, I23200:14:18,559 –> 00:14:21,119say that they have been horribly abused23300:14:21,900 –> 00:14:27,159Because they are sometimes taught these scriptures are sometimes taught in a way that23400:14:28,039 –> 00:14:30,039kills the very23500:14:30,280 –> 00:14:37,320Generosity Paul is writing to encourage and that’s a horrible abuse to use the Bible in a way that has the opposite23600:14:37,719 –> 00:14:40,080effect of the Holy Spirit’s intent23700:14:41,739 –> 00:14:44,940The teaching that I’m referring to the horrible abuse23800:14:45,599 –> 00:14:48,479You will be familiar with it. It is sometimes known as23900:14:49,580 –> 00:14:53,979prosperity teaching or as the prosperity gospel and24000:14:54,500 –> 00:14:56,820What it says is something along these lines24100:14:57,119 –> 00:15:04,340God wants you to prosper financially and the way that this happens is by a simple formula the more you give24200:15:04,859 –> 00:15:07,500the more you get and24300:15:07,960 –> 00:15:12,080You can see why people who teach a prosperity gospel24400:15:12,520 –> 00:15:16,979like to come to 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 and chapter 9 and24500:15:17,299 –> 00:15:23,440They will quote often verses like second Corinthians 8 9 that Great Christmas verse think of what it says24600:15:24,580 –> 00:15:29,219You know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that though. He was rich yet for your sakes24700:15:29,219 –> 00:15:32,859He became poor that you through his poverty might become24800:15:33,559 –> 00:15:35,260rich or24900:15:35,260 –> 00:15:37,059chapter 9 and verse 1125000:15:37,059 –> 00:15:39,380You will be made rich25100:15:39,799 –> 00:15:40,760in25200:15:40,760 –> 00:15:42,179every way25300:15:42,179 –> 00:15:48,280So the prosperity teacher comes and he seizes on verses of the Bible like this and he says well there you are25400:15:49,239 –> 00:15:51,299God wants you rich and25500:15:51,880 –> 00:15:54,460the guaranteed way for you to25600:15:55,200 –> 00:16:01,559Prosper financially is to increase your year-end giving to the church now. You’ve heard that kind of thing25700:16:02,440 –> 00:16:04,460we’ve seen that kind of thing and25800:16:04,979 –> 00:16:10,320You know as I do that a good salesman can make this sound like the sweetest deal25900:16:11,520 –> 00:16:13,520You reap what you sow26000:16:14,159 –> 00:16:18,080So giving becomes the path to prosperity26100:16:18,080 –> 00:16:20,080Prosperity26200:16:20,400 –> 00:16:22,979Now the problem with that lies right here26300:16:25,239 –> 00:16:30,580That when giving is taught as a means to gain26400:16:32,619 –> 00:16:34,619Generosity dies it has to26500:16:35,460 –> 00:16:37,460Because the giving actually is about26600:16:38,380 –> 00:16:40,380me and what I’ll get26700:16:41,400 –> 00:16:44,960When giving becomes the path to prosperity26800:16:45,840 –> 00:16:52,880The very point of second Corinthians chapter 8 and chapter 9 is lost and that is why I26900:16:53,299 –> 00:16:55,380described that kind of teaching as a27000:16:56,080 –> 00:16:57,239horrible27100:16:57,239 –> 00:17:03,419Abuse of the Word of God right here. Let me give you a little story that I found in the book27200:17:03,419 –> 00:17:05,180I refer to last week by Tim Keller27300:17:05,180 –> 00:17:12,640It’s called the Prodigal God, and it’s a fable, but it catches the point here as well as anything I’ve ever seen27400:17:13,319 –> 00:17:15,439It’s a story about a king, a27500:17:16,280 –> 00:17:18,339gardener, and a nobleman27600:17:19,020 –> 00:17:23,219And one day the gardener who’d been working very hard in his garden27700:17:23,619 –> 00:17:26,640pulled the most magnificent carrot27800:17:27,400 –> 00:17:34,319It was the finest carrot he had ever grown, and he decided that the thing he should do with it is give it as a gift27900:17:34,319 –> 00:17:35,479To the king28000:17:35,479 –> 00:17:38,239So he comes to the palace and the gardener says,28100:17:38,479 –> 00:17:44,920Oh, King, this is the finest carrot I have ever grown, or ever will grow, and28200:17:45,459 –> 00:17:51,939so I want to give it to you as a token of my love for you, and my respect, and my28300:17:52,439 –> 00:17:56,880honoring of you, my king. And the king receives this massive carrot28400:17:56,880 –> 00:18:01,900He said oh, thank you very much, and the man’s turning to go, and the King said, wait a minute28500:18:03,219 –> 00:18:05,219I own a field28600:18:05,439 –> 00:18:09,920that is right next to the plot that you garden, and you’re obviously a28700:18:10,160 –> 00:18:16,719marvelous gardener and a good steward of the earth, and so I want to give you that field, and you can28800:18:17,020 –> 00:18:18,819garden it along with28900:18:18,819 –> 00:18:20,520your garden, and29000:18:20,520 –> 00:18:24,859that field is going to be yours from today. So the gardener goes home29100:18:25,920 –> 00:18:27,920absolutely rejoicing29200:18:28,540 –> 00:18:34,219Now in the court was a nobleman who heard this and he thinks to himself- aha29300:18:34,459 –> 00:18:35,619a29400:18:35,619 –> 00:18:38,479whole field for a carrot?29500:18:39,939 –> 00:18:41,660I can do better than that29600:18:41,660 –> 00:18:43,660Well the nobleman bred horses29700:18:44,459 –> 00:18:46,060So the following day29800:18:46,060 –> 00:18:49,459he brings in this magnificent black stallion and29900:18:50,099 –> 00:18:58,020he says O king I breed horses and this black stallion is the finest horse. I have ever bred and30000:18:58,859 –> 00:19:05,079And I want to bring this horse as a gift to you as a token of my respect and my affection for you my king30100:19:06,140 –> 00:19:08,140the king knew he had been listening and30200:19:09,180 –> 00:19:11,140discerned his heart30300:19:11,140 –> 00:19:13,979So the king just said Oh, thank you very much30400:19:15,800 –> 00:19:18,359And the man’s face is absolutely crestfallen30500:19:20,099 –> 00:19:22,900So the king turned to him and he said let me explain30600:19:22,900 –> 00:19:28,119The gardener gave the carrot to me30700:19:29,660 –> 00:19:34,000What you were really doing was giving the horse to yourself30800:19:37,140 –> 00:19:42,359That’s the problem with prosperity teaching it kills generosity30900:19:44,660 –> 00:19:46,739We’ve been saying that31000:19:46,920 –> 00:19:52,060Gospel giving is pulled out of the world of law and into the world of grace31100:19:52,880 –> 00:19:54,180because31200:19:54,180 –> 00:19:59,699Generosity can only live and grow in the world of grace. It cannot thrive in the soil of the law and31300:20:01,400 –> 00:20:06,640Generosity cannot grow in the soil of self-interest either31400:20:08,219 –> 00:20:15,819So we have to pool this whole matter of giving out of any sense of what is mine as a result31500:20:16,739 –> 00:20:22,140Otherwise, we cannot grow in the likeness of our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ31600:20:22,819 –> 00:20:29,060Listen the teaching of 2nd corinthians and chapter 8 and chapter 9 if I can try and summarize it this way31700:20:29,560 –> 00:20:32,020It’s not the more you give the more you get31800:20:33,060 –> 00:20:35,060It’s the more you give31900:20:35,619 –> 00:20:37,619The more you will be able32000:20:37,660 –> 00:20:42,079To give notice that in verse 11 and in verse 8 first verse 1132100:20:42,079 –> 00:20:48,719You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion32200:20:50,000 –> 00:20:52,000That’s what God promises to us32300:20:52,119 –> 00:20:57,439If you set your heart on being more generous God will give you the ability to do so as32400:20:58,180 –> 00:21:04,280You grow in generosity you will find that God enables the capacity of your generosity to increase32500:21:05,680 –> 00:21:07,680The point of verse 8 look at that32600:21:07,680 –> 00:21:13,359God is able to make all grace abound to you so that in all things at all times having all you need32700:21:13,920 –> 00:21:18,479Notice need not all you want, but all you need he promises to supply what you need32800:21:19,560 –> 00:21:22,040He says you will abound in every good work32900:21:22,040 –> 00:21:27,420Why because you are growing in the likeness of Christ and therefore the fruitful ness of your life33000:21:28,439 –> 00:21:30,319Just continues33100:21:30,319 –> 00:21:32,560to blossom and to develop33200:21:33,040 –> 00:21:40,119We have to pause the message there, but you can hear the second part of this message in the next broadcast33300:21:40,119 –> 00:21:41,680I hope you’ll join us for that33400:21:41,680 –> 00:21:48,420The message is called a generous reward and it’s the final message in our series a generous life33500:21:48,920 –> 00:21:54,719If you’ve missed any of the series you can easily catch up. We’ll go back and listen again by coming online to our website33600:21:55,239 –> 00:21:57,160openingbible.org.uk33700:21:57,959 –> 00:22:05,160Or you can find them also as a podcast on all the main podcast sites by searching for open the bible UK or by33800:22:05,479 –> 00:22:07,479following the link from our website33900:22:08,520 –> 00:22:12,859Also on our website and available as a podcast is open the Bible daily34000:22:13,079 –> 00:22:20,579That’s our series of two to three minute daily reflections read this month by Sally Workman based on Pastor Collins teaching34100:22:21,300 –> 00:22:25,699Open the Bible Daily in the run-up to Christmas at open the Bible34200:22:25,719 –> 00:22:30,219We want to provide churches and groups with great supporting material34300:22:30,439 –> 00:22:33,939Here’s open the Bible’s executive director John Martin34400:22:34,140 –> 00:22:41,839if you’re planning events for Christmas and Advent for your church and community then open the Bible has resources to help you a34500:22:42,239 –> 00:22:44,619Nativity script you can use outside or indoors34600:22:45,619 –> 00:22:50,599Sermon outlines for an advantage sermon series and it’s all linked to our new little book34700:22:51,239 –> 00:22:54,180Christmas stories five first-person narratives34800:22:54,579 –> 00:22:58,920To find out more go to open the Bible org UK34900:22:58,979 –> 00:23:03,920Our regular listeners will know that open the Bible is supported by our many35000:23:04,079 –> 00:23:07,900Listeners and we’re extremely grateful for the support that you give us35100:23:08,000 –> 00:23:13,020So if you already give to support the work of open the Bible, thank you so much35200:23:13,719 –> 00:23:15,359This month of October35300:23:15,359 –> 00:23:16,540We have a special offer35400:23:16,540 –> 00:23:22,479if you’re able to set up a new direct debit in the amount of five pounds per month or more or a35500:23:22,619 –> 00:23:25,260One-off gift of 60 pounds or more35600:23:25,300 –> 00:23:31,880We’d love to say thank you by sending you a copy of a devotional book by Dave and Sally Gobett35700:23:31,939 –> 00:23:39,579It’s called Hallelujah. Here is Dave Gobitt to tell us about it. Hi that I’m Dave Gobitt and together with my wife35800:23:39,579 –> 00:23:41,579We’ve written this advent devotional35900:23:41,739 –> 00:23:47,680Hallelujah journeying through advent with Handel’s Messiah and the book is a daily devotional36000:23:47,680 –> 00:23:54,260the idea is you read a short section of the Bible and a meditation based on a movement from Handel’s famous Oratorio and36100:23:54,699 –> 00:23:58,099in the business of the run up to Christmas this book or36200:23:58,560 –> 00:24:02,459enable you to just pause and slow down and reflect on the36300:24:03,140 –> 00:24:09,500Significance of the coming of Jesus Christ as our personal Messiah and all that that means for us and for his world36400:24:10,040 –> 00:24:14,579and I’m actually delighted that Open the Bible UK have chosen this book to be their36500:24:15,060 –> 00:24:20,060October book of the month and if you make a donation to open the Bible UK in October36600:24:20,060 –> 00:24:22,439You’ll get a free copy of this book sent to you36700:24:22,540 –> 00:24:23,020well36800:24:23,020 –> 00:24:27,079you’ll be able to journey with us through Handel’s Messiah in the run up to Christmas and36900:24:27,099 –> 00:24:32,060I hope that’s a great encouragement to you as much as it was an encouragement to my wife and I as we wrote the book37000:24:32,359 –> 00:24:38,280So God bless and enjoy getting ready for the coming of the Messiah and maybe use Handel to help you37100:24:38,760 –> 00:24:40,920So Dave and Sallie darkness brook37200:24:41,359 –> 00:24:46,599Hallelujah is our gift to you this month if you’re able to set up a new direct debit37300:24:46,760 –> 00:24:53,500To the work of open the Bible for five pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of 60 pounds or more37400:24:53,880 –> 00:24:59,859You’ll find full details terms and conditions and you can give online at our website37500:25:00,079 –> 00:25:02,719open the Bible dot org dot UK37600:25:03,339 –> 00:25:07,280For open the Bible and pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick37700:25:07,640 –> 00:25:13,959Thanks for being with us today, and I look forward to you joining us again next time on open the Bible37800:25:20,660 –> 00:25:24,760If God gave you more what would you do with it?37900:25:25,219 –> 00:25:29,339Find out what your answer reveals next time on open the Bible