2 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.
Oh Friends, I believe my little corner of the world is drought stricken! Everyday I talk to somebody who claims that rain recently fell in their area, but none’s fallen in mine for over a week now. You see the dark skies and hear some thunder in the distance, and a few drops of blessing, more like a tease, will sprinkle the earth, but not so much as to even call it a drizzle, and only for a few minutes. All around me the grass is dry, the earth’s thirsty, crying out for its parched throat to be quenched. Ohhh! But so far nothing. However, that doesn’t mean we’ve got to stop believing for rain, to give up on the Good Lord Almighty, because we know that in due time, His time, the earth will be well watered, watered until it’s satisfied. The same thing goes for life in general mih Friends; we can’t give up on it. Like William James (1842-1910) the pioneering American psychologist and philosopher says: ‘Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.’ And that’s quite true people! It’s a bit of a mind game, but it’s just like faith; we believe what we hope for; we don’t see it in actuality, but we see it in our minds, and that keeps our hopes up, helps us cope with the conundrum, the riddle, that’s life. But the most important part of that quote my brethren is the first line: ‘Be not afraid of life.’ It’s a motto we should all live by, for though life can often be very scary, we ought not to let it scare us. We can be concerned, perplexed, perturbed, even worried, but definitely not scared mih people. Why? Because life is like a human bully; operates on the fear of its adversaries. If it sees that it can scare and beat you down, believe me, it will. So we need to always face life with confidence; go bravely in the world. Note, I said brave, not stupid, (smile) for there’s a very thin line between bravery and stupidity. And once life realizes that it can’t beat you down, it will cut you some slack, though it will never stop trying to intimidate you. Now all of what I’ve just said should be easier for believers than non-believers. Why? Bruh Paul’s word in our Bit explains it very nicely. ‘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.’ Ah Friends, we have to forgive Bruh Paul for his highfalutin, roundabout, confusing language, but that’s what too much education can sometimes do to us. Now don’t go chuckling, thinking that I’m guilty of that too, for I’m definitely not in Bruh Paul’s class. (smile) He’s only saying that our God is so great, so good, generous and magnanimous, that He has both the intention and the power to bless us with all we need, in every area and aspect of our lives, and will even give us extra, so that we can help others. And all God’s people gratefully raised their heads, hands, hearts, eyes and minds heavenward, proclaiming in unison: ‘All thanks and praise be to a most wonderful and glorious Lord God of heaven!’ Yes Friends, if we truly believe in the Lord, and act as that belief will have us, then our God will withhold nothing we truly need, and even provide more, so that we can meet the needs of others. Now note, we just don’t say: ‘Yes Lord, I believe,’ and manna and blessings come pouring down upon us. No mih breddren, we all have to show that faith in our daily lives, in the hard times and the good times, continuing steadfast and strong on whatever path the Spirit leads and guides us. Oh, but there’s also some fine print in that contract my Friends that we need to read carefully. Wrapped up in that program of sufficiency is our own willingness to give. It’s the life rule that states we reap what we sow, and also how much we sow. Cousin Sol puts it this way: ‘There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet (right) but it tendeth (leads) to poverty.’ (Prov.11:24) Yes my people, it’s indeed possible, through God’s power, to give away plenty, and yet increase your own holdings, while it’s also possible to hold on to the plenty you have and yet end up poor. Oh my brethren, please remember that most important life lesson nuh: that being generous can lead to prosperity, while hoarding, or being miserly can lead to poverty. As the psalmist says in Psalm 112, titled, ‘Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.’ ‘He hath dispersed (distributed abroad), he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn (strength) shall be exalted with honour.’ (Ps.112:9) Now hear Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom (pocket). For with the same measure that ye mete (use, give) withal it shall be measured to you again.’ (Luke 6:38) And the moral of today’s story? That we, as believers in an omnipotent, omniscient, ever present God, should not be afraid of life. We should stand strong and face it squarely, because if we live our faith, then our generous, forgiving, merciful, ever-LOVING and eternal God will give us everything we need, and more, to successfully navigate this earthly life. And remember that all important codicil, the fine print: Give generously of all that you have…and with a right heart, proper motive too, because that’s where the Lord looks when He considers enlarging and blessing us. Here endeth the sermon for today. (smile) But seriously though Friends, our world is so filled with hunger, poverty, sickness and incalculable misery that it most certainly behoves us to do whatever we can, in anyway possible, to alleviate the widespread ‘sufferation.’ And it is indeed ‘sufferation’ now Friends, for we’ve long passed the mere suffering level. So please, let’s seriously consider raising our giving of time, talents, possessions and/or money to help the less fortunate, for great will be our rewards, possibly right here on earth, but for sure in heaven, if we do it in the true spirit of kindness, LOVE and humility. Much LOVE mih people!…to him who gives…much shall be given…while he who hoards…shall surely be impoverished…
Oh Friends, I believe my little corner of the world is drought stricken! Everyday I talk to somebody who claims that rain recently fell in their area, but none’s fallen in mine for over a week now. You see the dark skies and hear some thunder in the distance, and a few drops of blessing, more like a tease, will sprinkle the earth, but not so much as to even call it a drizzle, and only for a few minutes. All around me the grass is dry, the earth’s thirsty, crying out for its parched throat to be quenched. Ohhh! But so far nothing. However, that doesn’t mean we’ve got to stop believing for rain, to give up on the Good Lord Almighty, because we know that in due time, His time, the earth will be well watered, watered until it’s satisfied. The same thing goes for life in general mih Friends; we can’t give up on it. Like William James (1842-1910) the pioneering American psychologist and philosopher says: ‘Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.’ And that’s quite true people! It’s a bit of a mind game, but it’s just like faith; we believe what we hope for; we don’t see it in actuality, but we see it in our minds, and that keeps our hopes up, helps us cope with the conundrum, the riddle, that’s life. But the most important part of that quote my brethren is the first line: ‘Be not afraid of life.’ It’s a motto we should all live by, for though life can often be very scary, we ought not to let it scare us. We can be concerned, perplexed, perturbed, even worried, but definitely not scared mih people. Why? Because life is like a human bully; operates on the fear of its adversaries. If it sees that it can scare and beat you down, believe me, it will. So we need to always face life with confidence; go bravely in the world. Note, I said brave, not stupid, (smile) for there’s a very thin line between bravery and stupidity. And once life realizes that it can’t beat you down, it will cut you some slack, though it will never stop trying to intimidate you. Now all of what I’ve just said should be easier for believers than non-believers. Why? Bruh Paul’s word in our Bit explains it very nicely. ‘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.’ Ah Friends, we have to forgive Bruh Paul for his highfalutin, roundabout, confusing language, but that’s what too much education can sometimes do to us. Now don’t go chuckling, thinking that I’m guilty of that too, for I’m definitely not in Bruh Paul’s class. (smile) He’s only saying that our God is so great, so good, generous and magnanimous, that He has both the intention and the power to bless us with all we need, in every area and aspect of our lives, and will even give us extra, so that we can help others. And all God’s people gratefully raised their heads, hands, hearts, eyes and minds heavenward, proclaiming in unison: ‘All thanks and praise be to a most wonderful and glorious Lord God of heaven!’ Yes Friends, if we truly believe in the Lord, and act as that belief will have us, then our God will withhold nothing we truly need, and even provide more, so that we can meet the needs of others. Now note, we just don’t say: ‘Yes Lord, I believe,’ and manna and blessings come pouring down upon us. No mih breddren, we all have to show that faith in our daily lives, in the hard times and the good times, continuing steadfast and strong on whatever path the Spirit leads and guides us. Oh, but there’s also some fine print in that contract my Friends that we need to read carefully. Wrapped up in that program of sufficiency is our own willingness to give. It’s the life rule that states we reap what we sow, and also how much we sow. Cousin Sol puts it this way: ‘There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet (right) but it tendeth (leads) to poverty.’ (Prov.11:24) Yes my people, it’s indeed possible, through God’s power, to give away plenty, and yet increase your own holdings, while it’s also possible to hold on to the plenty you have and yet end up poor. Oh my brethren, please remember that most important life lesson nuh: that being generous can lead to prosperity, while hoarding, or being miserly can lead to poverty. As the psalmist says in Psalm 112, titled, ‘Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.’ ‘He hath dispersed (distributed abroad), he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn (strength) shall be exalted with honour.’ (Ps.112:9) Now hear Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom (pocket). For with the same measure that ye mete (use, give) withal it shall be measured to you again.’ (Luke 6:38) And the moral of today’s story? That we, as believers in an omnipotent, omniscient, ever present God, should not be afraid of life. We should stand strong and face it squarely, because if we live our faith, then our generous, forgiving, merciful, ever-LOVING and eternal God will give us everything we need, and more, to successfully navigate this earthly life. And remember that all important codicil, the fine print: Give generously of all that you have…and with a right heart, proper motive too, because that’s where the Lord looks when He considers enlarging and blessing us. Here endeth the sermon for today. (smile) But seriously though Friends, our world is so filled with hunger, poverty, sickness and incalculable misery that it most certainly behoves us to do whatever we can, in anyway possible, to alleviate the widespread ‘sufferation.’ And it is indeed ‘sufferation’ now Friends, for we’ve long passed the mere suffering level. So please, let’s seriously consider raising our giving of time, talents, possessions and/or money to help the less fortunate, for great will be our rewards, possibly right here on earth, but for sure in heaven, if we do it in the true spirit of kindness, LOVE and humility. Much LOVE mih people!…to him who gives…much shall be given…while he who hoards…shall surely be impoverished…
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