ll CORINTHIANS LESSON 11


     We will begin this lesson in II Corinthians 9:1 "For as touching
the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to
you:"

     The last lesson was very similar to this lesson. "Superfluous"
means excessive or superabound. It, also, means have more abundance.
The word, "for", above shows that this is a continuation of chapter 8.
Paul is saying, he really should not have to write to them about this.
They should be eager to help their brothers in Christ who have a need.

     II Corinthians 9:2 "For I know the forwardness of your mind, for
which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a
year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many."

     It seems as though the zeal of the church at Corinth has caused
the other churches to want to help, also. Paul had bragged so on the
church at Corinth, that they had wanted to do the same thing.

     II Corinthians 9:3 "Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our
boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye
may be ready:"

     Paul is encouraging them to do whatever they are going to do now.
It seems a great deal of time has passed since the need was known, and
Paul is saying, send your offering now.

     II Corinthians 9:4 "Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me,
and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in
this same confident boasting."

     After promising so boldly what they would do, if they did not, it
would be embarrassing for Paul, as well as for them. Paul had not
ceased telling the people in Macedonia what the church at Corinth had
planned to give.

     II Corinthians 9:5 " Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort
the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up
beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same
might be ready, as [a matter of] bounty, and not as [of]
covetousness."

     Paul says, that he is not coveting their funds. He wants them to
have the free will offering ready when they come, to keep down
embarrassment.

     II Corinthians 9:6 "But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly
shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap
also bountifully."

     If you want a large crop, you have to plant a lot of seeds. This
is not speaking in planting real seed, but speaking of the ministry.
If the Lord is to bless them mightily, then they must give mightily.
The Lord multiplies what they give. 10 times one is ten, but ten times
ten is 100. To bring in a big harvest, you must plant big. This is
true in all walks of life. You reap according to what you sow.

     II Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his
heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God
loveth a cheerful giver."

     Paul is teaching them a principal of giving. To give because you
have to and not because you want to, brings no rewards at all. You
might as well keep the offering, if it is given grudgingly. It will
not do you any good, or the person receiving it either. Give and it
shall be given you, pressed down and running over. The if, is if you
gave it in love, cheerfully.

     II Corinthians 9:8 "And God [is] able to make all grace abound
toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things],
may abound to every good work:"

     When you give to those with no hope of return, you lay up
treasures in heaven for yourself. God does not overlook the smallest
gift you give to someone in need. Mark 9:41 "For whosoever shall give
you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ,
verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward." The gift does
not have to be large, it just has to be given freely with a cheerful
heart. Those who help others in need will find that they will never
suffer from need themselves. God sees their generosity and rewards
them.

     II Corinthians 9:9 "(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad;
he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever."

     When you are continually giving to others in need, you are
insuring the love of God toward you. You are letting the righteousness
that Jesus gave you, work in your life.

     II Corinthians 9:10 "Now he that ministereth seed to the sower
both minister bread for [your] food, and multiply your seed sown, and
increase the fruits of your righteousness;)"

     The Corinthians would not be the ones to distribute their
offerings. They are the one who provides the seed to be sown. They
intrust someone else to sow it for them and everyone benefits. The
person who provides the funds to minister with has just as much part
in the ministering as the one who actually does the ministering. Paul
may preach to these people, but the givers of the funds to do it with
are producing fruit for God, as well. Both are needed to get a good
crop.

     II Corinthians 9:11 "Being enriched in every thing to all
bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God."

     One may provide the seed and another plant the crop, but God gets
the increase. The saints who are blessed by this offering will give
thanksgiving to God.

     II Corinthians 9:12 "For the administration of this service not
only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many
thanksgivings unto God;"

     This giving to the saints in need is not just a physical blessing
to them, but also shows the love of God to them. It feeds their souls
to know of the unselfish love these Corinthians have for them. It
shows to them Christianity in action. This is what Christianity is all
about.

     II Corinthians 9:13 "Whiles by the experiment of this
ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the
gospel of Christ, and for [your] liberal distribution unto them, and
unto all [men];"

     They see from this that you have not only accepted Jesus as your
Saviour, but you are walking in that newness of life of the Christian.
Jesus is their Lord, as well as Saviour. They are acting in a Christ-
like fashion. We see, in this, the brotherhood of the believers.

     II Corinthians 9:14 "And by their prayer for you, which long
after you for the exceeding grace of God in you."

     This just shows that the saints in Jerusalem thank God for the
Corinthians who helped them. They do not have funds to give in return,
but pray for their generous brothers in Corinth. The grace of God is
showing in these followers in Corinth.

     II Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks [be] unto God for his unspeakable
gift."

     This is a thanking God by Paul. It is as if he is relieved that
they have not let him down. He showed much confidence in them, and it
was not unwarranted.

















                     ll Corinthians 11 Questions


1.  What does "superfluous" mean in verse 1?
2.  What does the fact that this lesson begins with the word "for"
    show us?
3.  Who had Paul boasted to of them?
4.  Who was ready a year ago?
5.  What zeal was Paul speaking of?
6.  Why was Paul anxious for them to send the offering now?
7.  What bounty are they speaking of?
8.  He that soweth sparingly, shall reap _____________.
9.  What must you do to get a large crop?
10. You reap according to what you ____.
11. How does verse 7 say to give?
12. What does verse 8 say God will do for you, if you are generous in
    your giving?
13. What is working in your life when you give generously?
14. Who is blessed more, the one who provides the seed to sow, or the
    one who sows it?
15. In verse 11, thanksgiving was given to whom?
16. What does this offering do for the saints, besides take care of
    their physical needs?
17. These Corinthians are walking in ____________ of _____.
18. What will the saints at Jerusalem do for the Corinthians?
19. Quote 2 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 15.