Series : Abound

 

Sermon Title: Abound in Good works

 

Theme Verse:

 

2 Corinthians 9:8

 

⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

 

(AMP)

⁸ And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.

 

So far in this series we have talked about abounding in Grace, being sufficient in Him and today we will end the series by talking about abounding in every good work. 

 

We are made complete by God to have sufficiency in all things so that we can have an abundance for good works. One of the points of this scripture is that we have all sufficiency so that we can be a blessing to others not too hoardthe sufficiency.  As we mentioned before in this series, faith without works is dead.

 

James 2:14-17

 

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? ¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

 

Rather the believer should abound with good works, not to attain salvation, but rather as an overflow of already being saved.  A good example of this can be found in the book of Acts.

 

Acts 3:1-10

 

¹ Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

Peter and John among other Jews had a routine.  Part of their routine included going to the temple to pray around the 9^th hour or 3:00 in the afternoon (9 hours away from 6:00 am).  Being Jews they would also go up to the temple to pray at 9:00 in the morning and 12:00 in the afternoon.  Prayer is not something they did occasionally when they found themselves in a difficult situation but rather it was a lifestyle.

 

They would purposely and habitually go “up” to the temple to pray.  If we would have a consistent prayer life, then we would be in tuned to the leading of the Spirit as He directs us toward good works.

 

However, this day is different than all the other days as their daily routine would be interrupted by an opportunity to do good rather than just praying good things.

 

² And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 

 

If a person had physical issues of any kind, then they were not allowed into the temple mount.  Rather they were to stay on the outskirts of the temple.  So, this man being lame certainly fell into this category.  Being lame meant he could not walk and if he could not walk then he could not work therefore he relied entirely on the generosity of others for his daily provision.  His need was a legitimate need.

 

Furthermore, he depended on others to bring him to high trafficked places such as the gate called beautiful so that he can ask alms.  As you can see several things must fall into place so that this man would have what he needed.  What kindness has his family and friends have shown him over forty years in carrying him daily to the temple gate.

 

His condition is very much like our spiritual condition apart from Christ.  For without Christ, we are without strength, lame from our birth, meaning we have received this sinful nature which has been passed on to us because of the sins of Adam.  Sin cripples us as it severs our relationship with a Holy God.

 

Just like the lame man we are unable to work out our own salvation nor are we able to accomplish any good workapart from Christ.  We too are dependent upon Christ just as this lame was dependent on his friends to bring him to the gate called beautiful. 

 

The contrast of the beautiful gate and the poor lame beggar cannot be overlooked.  One is a picture of grandeur,extravagance, wealth, while the other a picture of poverty, brokenness.  Both are needed in the world to accomplish God’s sovereign plan.   

 

The poor and broken are needed in this world to stir up compassion in those who are not lacking in material resources.  Jesus says (Matt. 26:11) “For you always have the poor with you.” 

 

While those who are well off are needed to help meet the needs of those who are poor.  They serve as a beacon of hope to those who are poor.  As they are generous to the serve the needs of others, they demonstrate the love of our Heavenly Father.  God is glorified in both the beggar and the giver.

 

This man found himself in the right place, next to the temple, a place in which God’s people would come and go to worship.  It is expected of God’s followers to be cheerful givers.  Even though his life seemed hopeless, he knew he could find a glimpse of hope from the generosity of God’s people. 

 

That is why we have so many homeless coming to the pantry and/or coming to get a bag of food.  Because even in their lowest point they know they God’s people are called to be generous.  Somehow, they know that if they are to find in good in this world, if they will find acts of kindness there is more of a chance of finding it among God’s people.  Because He is good! And we are simply extensions of His goodness to others.

 

³ Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 

 

 

View Inconveniences as Opportunities

• Pardon the interruption, I know that you had purposed in your heart to go to the temple, but would you take the time and consider my need?
• Would you focus on me and look at my condition?
• I am not able to go to the temple and pray as you are free to do so.Would you take time out of your day and value me as another human being and treat me with dignity by giving me alms?

 

Alms - a donation to the poor

 

Did he ask for the right thing though? 

 

Surely, he had heard of Jesus.  Who had just weeks before had passed through healing those who were blind and lame.  Certainly, he had recognized Peter and John as two of His disciples.  Why not ask to be healed?

 

To the best of his knowledge alms were what he needed?  After all you gotta eat.  After asking for alms for over forty years, alms are all you know to ask for.  You get caught in the rut; you have accepted things as they are and have abandoned any hope of things changing for the better. 

 

He was hopeful to receive alms, but he lacked the hope to be healed or maybe never even thought that he was a candidate to be healed.  He was focused on his material needs while God was more concerned about making him completely whole both physically and spiritually.

 

When we give to the poor we meet the immediate physical need, but ultimately our giving is meant to stir up their hope in God so that they will eventually learn to trust Him to meet all their needs, physically, spiritually, emotionally.

 

Philippians 4:19

¹⁹ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

 

So that they too can have all sufficiency in all things and abound in every good work. This inconvenience was an opportunity to be used by God, and an opportunity for God to reveal His power to this man.

 

⁴ And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 

 

When most people would turn away or walk on, both Peter and John were willing to look at him in his need.  Not only did they look, they directed their gaze at him or they fixed their eyes on him. They allowed what they had seen through their eyes to motivate their hearts in compassion towards the man’s need.

 

Allow the Need to Stir you to Compassion

 

If we are to abound in good works, it would serve us well to look at the need around us.  Abounding in good works starts with looking at the need of those around us. Not just looking but we must allow what we see to stir our hearts with compassion toward our fellow man.

 

 

At the end of a long day, after wanting some seclusion Jesus gets in a boat and heads to a desolate place to be by himself for a bit.  The crowd follows him

 

Mt. 14 He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them

Luke 7:13 (widow who lost her son) When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her

 

There is another instance in which Jesus heard the cries of two blind men who were pleading with Him to have mercy upon them.  Jesus was once again moved with compassion and healed their blind eyes. 

 

The point is that both his eyes and ears were gates to His compassionate heart, which then stirred him to action.  Meaning He allowed what He had seen and heard to stir Him to abound in good works.

 

The same can be said of Peter and John, who upon seeing this man who had been born lame and upon hearing his plea for alms, they too were stirred to compassion to do something about it. 

 

⁵ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 

 

Because the apostles allowed their hearts to be moved with compassion, this man who was born lame now has an elevated level of expectation.  He believes he will receive something.  But what he does receive far exceeds anything that he could have possibly asked for.

 

⁶ But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

 

Respond Within Your Means

 

Peter and John took inventory of what they had, and they fell short in having silver and gold.  The Lord’s apostles were often poor in material things but wealthy in the knowledge and power of Christ Jesus.

 

Notice they did not go run to the nearest bank to borrow money to help this man, they simply gave him what was in their means to do. 

 

Perhaps you can relate, you might not have money, but you have time or service to give. Your pockets might not be full, but your heart is full kindness and/or faith to believe God for the impossible.

 

The Lord is not asking you to give something that you don’t have, but to abound in good works with what you do have.

 

What Peter and John had far exceeded any amount of silver and gold. For now, this man is whole.  For the first time ever, He can walk with his own two legs.  This changes everything.  He can now go to work and provide for him and his family.  He can now contribute to society and is no longer a burden to his friends and family. 

 

So, the very first place that he walks to is the temple mount, the place which he had been banned for so long. For the first time in his life, he does not have to wait outside the gate but he can now enter the gate with everyone else.  He does so by walking, leaping and praising God.

 

⁸ And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

 

The result is magnificent. Not only does this man who was born lame receive strength in his feet and ankles and begins to walk and glorify God, this miracle produced awe and wonder in those who knew him as lame beggar. 

 

This miracle was just as much for them as it was for him.  You will never know the impact that you have as a believer as you begin to abound in good works, that is until you go to heaven. 

 

I believe that Christ’s work is to continue through his followers.  As He abound in good works, so did his disciples, so must we.

 

View Inconveniences as Opportunities

Allow the Need to Stir you to Compassion

Respond Within Your Means

 

Need is everywhere, we are not God we cannot meet all the needs, allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you.