Day 4 - Discipleship as Radical Generosity

2 Corinthians 9:12-15

PAUSE –

As we prepare for prayer, let's pause to clear our hearts and minds to invite God's Spirit to guide us with the words of Psalm 63:1

   You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek vou;

   I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,

   In a dry and parched land where there is no water...

In a divided and broken world, we long for a fresh flow of God's living water - the Holy Spirit

REJOICE in God’s goodness with the words Psalm 34:1-3

   I will extol the Lord at all times;

   his praise will always be on my lips.

  I will glory in the Lord;

   Let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

   Glorify the Lord with me;

   let us exalt His name together.

Pastor and author, Doug Newton, lists 6 characteristics of radical discipleship in his book Kingdom Come. At the top of the list is Radical Generosity which he defines as a readiness to give away what you yourself need.'

On more than one occasion, I have witnessed Doug and Margie demonstrating this kind of radical generosity. This also fits the Apostle Paul's description of the Macedonian Church in 2 Corinthians 8:3 where Paul writes-

For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own. So, what would possibly motivate such radical generosity?

We will look at this more next week, but for now let's just say the source, the motivation, and the fruit of this kind of discipleship is GRACE!

REFLECT –

We will continue looking at 1 Corinthians 9 as we read verses 12-15 today.

This service (generosity) that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you, their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Do you see the picture of discipleship painted here? In serving others by obediently giving generously, not only are the Lord's people (believers) having their needs met, but it seems even those outside the church have been impacted and the result is praise and thanksgiving to God. And all of this because of the surpassing grace God has given us. The grace of God moves the people of God to acts of generosity which are a reflection of the righteousness of God. And the result is magnified thanksgiving and praise of God.

REREAD AND REFLECT - Read aloud these verses again, listening for a word or phrase which stands out to you.

·      Pause 30 seconds and reflect on what the Lord is saying to you.

·      What is the Lord saying to you as you reflect on this passage? What specifically stands out to you?

ASK –

Turn those words into a prayer - asking God to pour out His grace on believers that might unleash radical generosity which results in unashamed praise of the living God - the true Gift-Giver!

YIELD –

As you reflect on the grace of God which you have received, is there anything that holds you back from the kind of discipleship that produces radical generosity? Perhaps it would be helpful to remember the times the Lord has been extremely generous to you - even when you were not faithful to Him. You might take time to listen to The Goodness of God in the video below.

Feel free to open your hands and offer the grace you have received back to the Lord in praise as a gift to be given away to others so that they might join in the praise of the one who is faithful.