His Indescribable Gift

Introduction

What a great day of worship it has been already. And I try to do that. I try to set myself up sometimes as a preacher to get to talk about some of my favorites. And I’ve been thinking about this for a few weeks, and I get to talk about. I hope I get to do this justice this morning. I want to talk to you about a single verse. Well, no, I’m not, but I’m starting with a single verse that I want you to appreciate as much as I’m striving to appreciate it. It’s in your Bibles in 2 Corinthians. 2 Corinthians. Turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 9, the very last statement of 2 Corinthians chapter 9. Simple, easy to remember. Thanks be to God for his indescribable.

Yeah. What a compelling statement. A summary. As Paul will now move on to a different thought. It is the summary of Paul’s appeal to the Corinthians to participate wholeheartedly in the financial relief effort of saints in Judea. He’s writing to the church in Corinth, miles and miles away, to get involved, like the churches of Macedonia had done, in the setting aside of funds to be able to be taken by messengers to people who need relief. Saints who needs relief. This ministry to the saints, he has called it. In 2 Corinthians chapter 9. What exactly is this? Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. I want us to appreciate and understand it. It really pertains to this entire section, going back to 2 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 1.

This entire section, chapters 8 and 9, it is his summary statement of all that has preceded. 2 Corinthians, as I’ve told you many times, is set out in three sections. Chapters 1 through 7 involve the theme of Paul’s message, the message of reconciliation, because the Corinthians at this time have become somewhat estranged from Paul. And so he urges them at really the heart of it in chapter 5 to be reconciled to God and thus be reconciled to his apostle as well. And he says, you’re restrained in your affections in chapter 6. In the midsection, he compels them to get involved in this relief effort. In the concluding section in chapters 10 through 13, he deals with the specific issues that are affecting his relationship to the Corinthians.

And I’ve told you many times, I love 2 Corinthians. So that’s what’s going on in the scope of the book. Now let’s just look at those two specific chapters in the middle. Obviously, when he speaks of his indescribable gift, there is another word that we immediately think of, right? In summer, yes. Grace, right? Grace. Obviously, this has something to do with the grace of God. In fact, the grace of God has been a topic in chapters 8 and 9. Really going back, look at chapter 8 and verse 1. Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God, and that’s the verse that starts this to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia.

Now that’s a big clue right there. Well, hasn’t everybody in a church received the grace of God? Hasn’t all of God’s people, haven’t they all been recipients of God’s grace? Yes. But he’s talking about a specific set of circumstances to a specific set of people when he says, the grace that has been given in the churches of Macedonia. So when he talks about his indescribable gift, he clues us in to something God has graciously provided. Just a couple of passages. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans chapter 6 and verse 23. For by grace have you been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2, verses 8 and 9. And one more passage that speaks of grace as a gift, as he says, in Ephesians, of which I was made a minister of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace, Ephesians 3 7, the gift of God’s grace, which was given to me according to the working of his power. So you really have to look at the whole section here to understand what he means when he comes to the conclusion. And I must say simply that I used to think when I read 2 Corinthians 9 15, and I don’t know if you’ve gone there already, thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. He must be talking about heaven. Is that what you thought? Anybody else think that? Heaven.

Some say Jesus. Okay, well, you see, you’re doing better than I did. I thought heaven, because heaven’s indescribable, right? Tonight, we’re going to talk about heaven and longing for heaven. Because, Julia, you want to be too. So tonight we’re going to do that. Hope you’ll long to come back at 5 o’clock so that we can generate a longing for heaven. But there’s more going on here than just God’s wonderful provisions that he’s made for us, ultimately. That’s not all he’s referring to here, though he has something incredible and indescribable in many ways prepared for us. I want you to appreciate even more what this verse is saying. Okay, some have mentioned Jesus. Well, let’s get right to the heart of that. Let’s make three observations this morning about this indescribable gift.

1. What Exactly Is God's Gift or Grace

What exactly is God’s gift or his grace? This text tells us clearly what it is. And I love this verse too. 2 Corinthians 8 and verse 9. Again, this whole context, 8 and 9, go together. In the middle of this, and he’s saying this as motivation for the Corinthians to get involved in this. He says, I’m not saying, I’m not commanding you to give. And it’s elliptical. Of course, they need to give. They’re commanded to give, as Wayland talked about. I’m not saying this by way of commandment. I’m not merely saying, hey, you need to do this because you’re supposed to. I want you to do this because of your love for God and your love for his people, by the sincerity of your love. And then he says, Let me give you an example of that.

Your Lord, who is the epitome of grace. For you know, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. That though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, that you, through his poverty, might become rich. Now I wish I could find more ways to get that verse into the sermons that I preach. But if I did that all the time, we might get used to it and not appreciate it, because I want to tell you, that’s a verse of wonders right there. Jesus, though he was rich, and we cannot begin to fathom how rich he was. He did not regard equality with God, a thing to be grasped. He surrendered the portals of heaven to take on human flesh, to be found in the likeness of man, as we talked about Philippians 2 last week, took upon himself dust, the form of a servant, humbled himself even unto death, as we saw in Philippians chapter 2 and verse 8, and not just death, but death on a cross.

Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor. We can’t understand the depths of that poverty, just like we can’t understand the heights of those riches. And I just want to tell you, we could contemplate this verse, as we say in Texas until the cows come home. I don’t know why, but we do. And we could never fathom the depths of 2 Corinthians 8 and verse 9. That though he was rich, for your sake he became poor. And here’s the marvel of it all. That you, through his poverty, because of someone else’s willing choice to be impoverished, that you through his poverty might be rich.

This is the message of the gospel in one sentence. Thanks be to God for his grace. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. The exchange of riches for poverty for no personal gain other than the reclamation of his beloved creation.

We were very close at Florida College. She posted on Facebook. Today is their 28th anniversary. She and her husband, and Sherry and I are about to have 28. This is really going to set this up.

Her husband, bum that he is, provided her on their 28th anniversary, 28 roses. With each anniversary, it costs you more and more and more. Imagine 50 roses on the 50th wedding anniversary. 28 roses, and theirs was a picture of them there on Facebook. You know, I just go to the pictures, don’t have time for the rest of them. But now I’m thinking, our 28th anniversary. Is that what you do on the 28th? 28 roses that are going to die in three days. Thank you very much. But it warmed her heart that her husband would spend that kind of money. And provide 28 roses for 28 years. Meant a lot to her guests who posted on Facebook. That’s nothing compared to how we should feel about 2 Corinthians 8 and verse 9.

2. The Effect God's Grace Produces in Believers

You see what I’m saying? There is an illustration that’s adequate for what we’re reading here. Now that’s what grace is. Try to wrap your mind around it. We can never plumb the depths of it. We can think about it 24 7 and never really, I think, appreciate that. And that’s part of our problem with the subject of heaven that we’ll talk about tonight. Our circumstances cause us to struggle to really appreciate it. Now, but here’s the point with his indescribable gift. This is really the focal point of the whole thing. He’s not just marveling that God has done this wonderful, gracious act in giving Jesus for our redemption. What he’s marveling about when he says, thanks be to God for his indescribable gift, is the effect that God’s grace produces in the lives of believers.

He’s talking about this entire section, and as he comes to the conclusion of it, he gets like overwhelmed, it seems in his summary when he considers all the things that are happening in this relief effort as a result of God’s grace. So just a couple of observations till I get to that. Number one, Grace makes it possible or available. Grace changes us for the better, and it must change us. In the message of reconciliation that I mentioned in chapter 5 when he says, be reconciled to God, he says, we urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. Important verse. 2 Corinthians 6 and verse 1. And working together with him, we urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. Grace needs to change us to be of any effect in our lives.

Or we receive it in vain. Did you get that? Grace has to change us. Or it’s of no effect in our lives. And grace is the fuel for my participation in his cause. And more on that in a moment. Stay with me, please, for just a few minutes. So Paul is overwhelmed. Paul is overwhelmed by the positive results of giving and receiving among brethren. And now go back to chapter 8 and verse 1. Let me show you how this works. Now the grace of God, which was given in the churches of Macedonia, then what do we what do we learn about the churches elsewhere in Macedonia? Man, have they stepped up to the plate. Even though they don’t have a lot, he says, their liberality has been displayed.

They have contributed generously. They’ve given out of their poverty. They’ve given more than they were able.

Now I go to chapter 9. He says, now let us do that. Let us each one do just as he is purpose in his heart. You need to get involved in this project. Get your heart involved in it. Purpose in your heart, because as we’ve always quoted. Not grudgingly or under compulsion. Don’t put money in the complete plate grudgingly or of compulsion. But God loves a cheerful giver. Verse 10. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply. He will supply and multiply your seed. Now notice this for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. Okay, God’s involved in increasing the harvest of my righteousness. You’ll be enriched in everything. Boy, that’s good. We through his poverty might become rich.

You will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. You know what? Everybody is so thankful to be involved in this. And the people that are receiving are thankful, and the people that are giving that are thankful. For the ministry of the service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God, and this is good. And everything give thanks. Because of the proof given by this ministry, the recipients, they’re going to glorify God. They will glorify God for your obedience. Wow, those brethren in Corinth. Those brethren in Macedonia.

3. What Does Grace Mean in Us

We can’t repay. We’re thankful for them. They glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you. Notice this. Because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Just like it was the Macedonians. They pray on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. And so we come to the conclusion. What does this mean to you and me? Are you still with me? This is awesome. We’re told what grace is. It is explained in chapters eight and nine what grace has produced in the Macedonians, what he wants to be produced in the Corinthians.

Everything that was done in chapters eight and nine was because God had given his gift of grace. What are we doing here this morning? What does grace mean in us? Sometimes we, I’ve got to pull myself up by the bootstraps and get my Sunday vest on and expend all this effort to get to worship, and I’m worn out when it’s over, and it’s all about me and what I’ve done, what I’m doing and how I’m sacrificing. Oh no, it’s not. No, it’s not. We absolutely need to change our perspective. It is not about what we’ve done and how much we’ve sacrificed and how much sweat and work that we’ve done. We are what we are, because of what God has done. What we have done in worship, the things that we have spoken with our lips, our devotion, our allegiance to a worthy God, is only made possible by God’s indescribable gift.

It is by grace that acts of service are performed that advance his great cause. Talking to Thad yesterday about his thankless task. He’s got the worst deacon job that there is. And Scott assists him with this. It’s the securing of teachers for each and every quarter. And they’ll come up, they’ll be, we need teachers. We need teachers. And if you’re teaching in this quarter, you’re going, whoo, I stepped up to the plate. I met the challenge. I said yes to Scott and Thad who are always asking for teachers. All the slots are filled. It’s amazing how we always get the slots filled, isn’t it, Thad? He’s going to need more teachers next quarter than he’s ever needed before. Needs people to step up to the plate.

And I’ll tell you what, teachers, those of you that are coming out of those classes, boy, aren’t you glad that’s over? You have worked and every week preparing, trying to help these youngsters know the Lord. You’ve expended a lot of effort and you’re tired. You need a break. But would you remember something? How privileged any of us are to be able to serve in this way as a teacher to our kids of the most important things that are, or to provide the teachers for the classes. To be able to serve as one of our shepherds and to shepherd, the Lord’s sheep, or to preach the message of salvation that I get to do on a race. Sometimes my attitude gets a little off. This is a joy, this is a privilege.

This is what it is by the grace of God. And in whatever way you are capable of serving, you do so by the grace of God. And when we fight the battles against temptation and we win, it is by the grace of God that we do it all. I am what I am, Paul says. By the grace of God. And so here he is in 2 Corinthians 9, talking about giving. And he says, it’s grace. I mean, the fact our participation in this great project, this great need, satisfying this great need, and look at all the things that happen as a result. These brethren are thankful for these brethren. There’s prayers going up all over the place. He says, wow, isn’t the grace of God amazing?

4. No Place for Mr. Big Shot

Yes, it is. And look what it does for us as we defeat the adversary. Who was intent on our destruction. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. You being here and being more than just a warm body on the pew this morning, but actual participant in the worship of God. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. Now I want to make one more point about this. What this says is there is absolutely no place whatsoever for Mr. Big Shot among the people of God. Did you hear me? And yet so often I’ve seen that. Somebody wanting to be important in this little sphere of this group of people, my way or the highway kind of guy. I’m going to be Mr. Big Shot in the local church, and it will completely tear things to shred because this guy’s got an ego problem, wants to be a big shot.

This passage puts us in our place. I don’t care how big shot you get. You and me, we’re temporary. Very temporary. I’m mindful of my frame that we are, we are but dust. The psalmist says in Psalm 103. We need to be mindful of how temporary and even worse, how flawed we are.

I’ll tell you the majority of my struggle, and I don’t have any problem confessing it because I think it’s an experience that all of us have. It’s the way we think. It’s our lusts and desires, period. They can get a skew. A lot of our stumbles are not outward, people aren’t seeing them, but it’s just the way we’re thinking about things. For we all stumble in many ways. We’re temporary, we’re flawed, and we certainly must recognize that we are dependent on him who has it all together. Whose ways are higher than our ways, his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Isaiah chapter 55, verses 8 and 9. We are here today. We are equipped to serve as we have done because of the amazing gift. His indescribable gift.

Conclusion

That the likes of us can be brought into fellowship with a holy God. And if you’re with us this morning and you’ve not experienced that, if you’re on the outside of the marvelous benefits of his gift, of his grace, Jesus did what he did so that you might become rich. And this is just a taste of it. This is just the beginning. Tonight we’ll talk about the ice cream, the whipped cream on top, and why it is what we long for. Have you received the marvelous benefits of his gift? What are you waiting on? What are you living for? What are you hoping for? We’re talking about everything that matters. And so if you’re subject to the invitation, would you act now while we stand and sing together?