““No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬

‭“For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬-‭20‬

Let us pray:   

“Dear God, You are Worthy of it all. God, please help us be people whose cup is filled and overflowing, and we are drinking from the saucer.  

Jesus, we welcome You to speak in a powerful way this day. Change our minds, hearts, and souls so that we will be people who are overflowing with Your love to our family, community, and the world. Father, You are a loving Father. We want to be like You. 

Please help us give Your kindness and love so we may refresh the hearts of all people. We are transformed by You to bring Hope to the people.  We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.” 

Generosity:  First and foremost, God is a generous God. To follow the model of the Father is to be exceedingly generous.  Generosity is essential to the heart of Christ and the mission of the Church is generosity.  

Today we are continuing in our teaching series on Generosity, with the truth of God and the Cheerful Giver.   

Friends, I know what some of you may be thinking:  On no, another message on giving.   

But before any eyes start rolling, remember, generosity is not about God needing something from you, it’s about him wanting something for you.  

Our goal in this series is to see God’s generous heart lived through us.   

Giving, like many aspects of the Christian life, is a journey.  We begin at a particular point and progress over time.  Some individuals may advance faster, while others require more time.   

This sermon is not as much about our wallet; it is about our will. It is about the character of a Christlike disciple. To withhold generosity is to forget who we are as follower of Jesus.  

Scripture: Please turn with me to 2 Corinthians 9: 6-8. The scripture will be on the screen. 

We Give Because God Sows Bountifully – 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 

Verse 6: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 

Verse 7: Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

Verse 8:  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 

In short, this passage teaches that generosity is an act of faith where we trust God to provide for us so that we can, in turn, be agents of His grace and provision for others.   

It provides the essential theology for Christian generosity, moving from the principle of sowing to the promise of provision.  The Word of God speaks it all.   

Let us pray: 

Heavenly Father, we come before you now, at this moment, asking you to meet us here. We invite the presence of your Holy Spirit to fill this place and to fill every heart gathered for this service. 

May our minds be attentive to the divine truth you long to embed within us. 

We confess that our hearts often grow closed, fearful, and hesitant, especially when it comes to giving. We worry about sufficiency and hold tightly to what is temporary.  

We ask specifically that you would transform us into people of generosity in all areas of life: 

• God, please help me/help us to be generous with our Faith: That we might boldly share the hope we have in Christ. 

• Father, please help me/help us be generous with our Time and Talents: That we might willingly give our energy and skills to serve the church. 

• Jesus, please help me/us be generous with our Treasures: That we might give freely and cheerfully.  

• Lord, please help me/us give our touch.  Help us to become friends to the friendless. Please help us in our relationships to others to convey the love of Christ to those to whom He assigned us. All people are important to the Lord.  

Lord, start this transformation with me, the one offering this prayer. Give me a vision for the generous life that reflects your own boundless giving. Remove all reluctance and replace it with the joy of a cheerful giver. 

Father, please open our hearts to receive the truth that will lead us to this freedom. We commit this time to you, asking for your presence and power, for your glory, Amen. 

No really, this is an awesome opportunity for me to unpack this passage for you and for me.  

God isn’t focused on the amount of our generosity (see the widow’s mite) but on the quality of our generosity – He loves a cheerful giver. 

Our Generosity is a Response to God’s generosity. 

The Law of the Harvest (Verse 6): The first principle of generosity is that it is a response to God’s immense giving, not an act of self-sufficiency.  

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6 

The Law of the Harvest: The Apostle Paul uses a simple farming analogy: If you plant more seeds, you have more crops.  It’s that simple. 

God is the Ultimate Sower, who provided His one and only Son. Our salvation is proof of God’s limitless, bountiful generosity. We are simply mirroring His nature. 

A little bit later in Verse 8 it says: “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 

God promises to make all that is needed for every good work.  God provides not so we can hoard, but so we can keep sowing. 

Generosity is the Fruit of a Sanctified Heart. 

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 

This verse describes the character of a Cheerful Giver. True generosity transforms the giver’s character. It is a fruit of holiness, connecting directly to the Nazarene emphasis on entire sanctification. 

The Greek word for “cheerful” is hilaros—we get the word hilarious from it!  

God loves an excited, joyful giver. Reluctance proves the heart is still grasping its possessions; cheerfulness proves the heart trusts God completely. 

The picture on the screen is of Opal Rush, a dear friend, who lived generosity.  Taken in 1998 shortly before I moved back home to Elkton, this photo features Earl, my mom, and Opal (right), who is remembered for famously paying off the Tampa Church of God building, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020. 

Generosity. That’s the kind of heart my friend Opal Rush had.  

Opal Rush is now in heaven, but her favorite saying still echoes with me 27 years later: “You can’t out-give God.”  

Opal’s Legacy is that of Generosity.  She lived a life of generosity, all the way to her final days.   

Opal, a beloved hairstylist by trade, loved to share how God had blessed her life, often linking those blessings directly to her commitment to giving. 

Opal had a deep heart for the lost, especially the inner-city children near 22nd Street between Busch Boulevard and Fowler in Tampa, Florida.  

Shortly after her husband, Brother Rush (a barber), passed away, Opal made a monumental decision. She told me she was going to pay off the church mortgage entirely because she wanted the monthly payment to go directly toward missions. 

I confess, I was young and totally ignorant of the concept of such radical generosity. I asked Opal, “Why would you want to spend your money to pay the mortgage off? Where are you going to get that kind of money from?”  

Opal was a dear soul who didn’t have a lot and didn’t live above her means. I truly couldn’t believe she had enough to clear the entire debt. 

Yet, Opal withdrew her life savings and paid every dime to settle the church mortgage. She was ecstatic, knowing the burden was lifted and the funds would now flow straight into sharing the Gospel. 

Generosity Brings Glory to God. 

The Promise of Abundance (Verse 8): Paul assures believers that their generosity will not leave them in need. God promises to make “all grace abound” to them.  

The purpose of this abundant blessing is twofold: 

• Personal Sufficiency: To ensure they always have “all that they need.” 

• Missional Abundance: To enable them to “abound in every good work.” 

This point establishes the foundational truth that generosity is not an obligation, but a privileged response to the abundance of God. 

God is the Ultimate Sower: The very first, greatest act of generosity was God sowing His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16).  

He didn’t sow “sparingly”; He gave His only Son for you and me, and the whole world. Our salvation is proof of God’s limitless, bountiful generosity. 

The Principle of Reciprocity (Not Reward): This concept of sowing and reaping is often misinterpreted as a financial guarantee: Give $100, get $1,000 back. Paul is teaching a spiritual principle of increase and sufficiency.  

C.S. Lewis said: “The only safe rule is to give more than you can spare.” 

When you sow with a generous spirit, that spirit is multiplied back to you. When you trust God with your resources, He promises to make “all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). 

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, in late September 2024, our community sprang into action. 

Volunteers from the East Rock Campus and Harrisonburg Campus joined forces with Compassion Church of the Nazarene in Lynchburg and traveled to Asheville to deliver vital aid. 

The work on the ground was immediate and practical: 

• Property Clearing: Clearing massive fallen trees from damaged properties. 

• Essential Aid: Cash was donated for a food pantry to purchase necessities, and a large quantity of food was delivered directly to people in need. 

• Repairs: Assisting with necessary electrical wiring repairs. 

I encourage you to speak with some of the East Rock Team members, such as Frank and Vickie Waldrop, Tim and Valerie Link, Lee Shifflett, Kenny Herring, and Bill Kingrea—about their powerful experiences.  

They went to bless and help and came back feeling deeply blessed to be serving on the ground and making a difference for God’s glory.  

This ministry often works closely with state and local recovery efforts, focusing on the essential human and spiritual element of the crisis. 

The response to these disasters demonstrates the regional aspect of our church’s generosity, ensuring that our Nazarene neighbors and communities near and far receive practical aid and the hope of Christ in their greatest moments of need. 

In short, the 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 teaches that generosity is an act of faith where we trust God to provide for us so that we can, in turn, be agents of His grace and provision for others. 

The rapid response efforts of the Church of the Nazarene are a key part of its larger Global Compassion Ministry, which is officially called Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM). 

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) is the relief and development arm of the Church of the Nazarene. Its work includes: 

• Emergency Relief/Disaster Response: This covers the “rapid response” aspect, addressing needs after natural or man-made disasters (sometimes referred to as Nazarene Disaster Response – NDR in the USA/Canada region). 

• Holistic Child Development (including the Child Sponsorship program). 

• Community Development and Social Transformation (addressing issues like poverty, hunger, health, and clean water). 

The rapid response initiatives are how the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and local Nazarene churches provide immediate and long-term care in the face of crisis around the world. 

Our engagement with human suffering is holistic. Most recently, our four campuses united for a powerful act of compassion by assembling Crisis Care Kits.  

These kits are a practical, an immediate way our Nazarene District Rapid Relief Team assists communities when crisis hits, showcasing the generosity of the church.  

Video. Let’s watch a short Nazarene Missions Promo:   

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wjt5vvad0ljeevrcmsqg5/AIsF-6XGUG-xLfIWpAQ5d-A/Nazarene%20Missions%201_54.mp4?rlkey=8kv28j4mfkkr6dl6ou93gnrie&dl=0

The Response for me today and for everyone here is to live a life of generosity.   

Friends, the call to generosity is a call to discipleship. It is an opportunity to prove the depth of our trust in the Bountiful Sower, Jesus Christ. We are not called to give out of compulsion, but out of cheerful conviction. 

The true barrier to being a cheerful giver is not a lack of funds; it is a lack of faith—a place in our heart we still hold back from God. 

“What does it mean to truly sow abundantly? I saw it lived out in the generous heart of Opal Rush…” 

As I leaned close and told Opal the story of the service, how the debt was finally gone and her gift realized—a miracle happened. Though physically paralyzed, she began to cry, then weep. The gift was done. The debt was gone. 

That, my friends, is the harvest of sowing generously. Opal Rush, who gave more than she could spare, received a profound reward not in wealth or health, but in the deepest form of blessing: the realization of her heart’s desire. 

In a moment where she had nothing left to give, she was given the grace to know that her seed—her life-changing gift to God—had accomplished its purpose. 

The life of Opal Rush is a powerful testimony that proves the truth of the Scripture: You truly can’t out-give God. Her generous sowing resulted in an emotional, spiritual reaping that no earthly compensation could ever touch. 

Our Call to Action:  Sow Generously.   

Will you answer the Call?  

Will you sow with the same generosity as Opal, confident that you will have all that is needed because God promises to make “all grace abound” to you? 

Opal Rush’s life was a testament to the fact that when you invest in God’s kingdom, you always receive the greatest return. She gave all she had, and in doing so, she secured a legacy that is still blessing the church and funding missions today. 

Her final, selfless act reminds us of two things:  Generosity is not about abundance; it’s about availability.  

Opal didn’t have excess wealth, but she gave her life savings to advance the Kingdom. 

Every single gift has eternal impact. Her desire was simple: to turn a debt payment into a mission offering. That vision lives on. 

I challenge you today:  Look past the immediate. What small sacrifice can you make today that will result in an eternal impact? 

Embrace the truth of Opal’s famous saying: Do you truly believe that you can’t out-give God? Put that faith to the test this week. 

I want to be clear this morning, God is not calling you to give yourself into bankruptcy, but to blessing. He promises to pour back to you a “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”  

Trust Him today with the deepest, most guarded part of your life. He will provide the seed for the sower, and a harvest that brings glory to His name! 

Paul’s words are a holy challenge: Is your giving a joyful response, or a reluctant duty? 

Two ways you can respond today: 

1. Call to Surrender (Sanctification): If your giving is hesitant and reluctant, I invite you to ask the Holy Spirit to sanctify your finances. Ask God to free you from the worry, the fear, and the grasping that makes you a “sparing sower.”  

2. Call to Commitment (Partnership): If you’ve never committed to a purposeful, bountiful pattern of generosity—if you’ve been “sparing” where God calls you to be “bountiful”— today commit to being a faithful partner in the harvest, a true cheerful giver.  

Closing Prayer: 

Dear Lord, we invite You now to work a miracle of sanctification in our finances. Please free us from the bondage of “not enough.”   

Lord, we thank You for the opportunity to be faithful partners in the great harvest.  We dedicate ourselves to establishing a habit of intentional generosity that honors You. 

Father, great is Your faithfulness always.  We love You Lord.  In Jesus Name, Amen. 

• TODAY WE BEGIN A NEW SERIES ON GENEROSITY.  

• A WILLINGNESS TO HELP SOMEONE 

• MORE THAN WHAT IS TYPICALLY EXPECTED. 

• ¹⁶And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. HEB13 

THANKSGIVING 

• FIRST WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 

• LAUNCH TOWARDS THANKSGIVING 

• THANKSGIVING IS 2 WORDS-FOCUS ON 2^ND WORD 

• WE WILL LOOK AT WHAT IT MEANS  

• MORE IMPORTNANTLY WHAT GENEROSITY MEANS 

GIVING/GENEROSITY IS SPIRITUAL 

READING YOUR BIBLE- SPIRITUAL 

TEACHING ABOUT PRAYER- SPIRITUAL 

SERVING KIDS CITY/MOVEMENT-THAT’S DEF SPIRITUAL 

 WANNA START WITH PHOTO OF THE DOMROES FAMILY 

DOMROES FAMILY PICTURE                               

MID SEPTEMBER MISSIONARIES DOMROES VISITED US 

• CHURCH LEADERSHIP DECIDED 5K FOR THEM 

• BOARD MEMBER SAID MINIMUM- WILL SEE  

• WE GAVE THEM CHECK FOR 5, THEY WERE EXCITED 

• LAST WEEK SENT CHECK FOR ANOTHER 6500    

SCRIPTURE PROVERBS 11:25                        

  25. “A GENEROUS PERSON WILL PROSPER; WHOEVER REFRESHES OTHERS WILL BE REFRESHED.” 

JOESPH WHIDNEY (LATE 1800’S) 

• JOSEPH WHIDNEY- FORMER DOCTOR 

• FORMER PRESIDENT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 

• HEART OF GENEROSITY (ESPECIALLY THE POOR) 

PICTURE PHINEAS BRESEE 

• LATE 1800’S 

• SOUTH CENTRAL LOSA ANGELES 

• THESE TWO MEN MEET AND TEAM UP 

PENIEL MISSION (NON DENOMINATIONAL) 

• THEY SERVE AND HELP HERE 

• THEY HAD SIMILAR METHODIST ROOTS 

• LOOKED-ASKED WHO HELPING PEOPLE MARGIN? 

A driving purpose of our church is to elevate those in need. 

QUOTE AMY CARMICHAEL 

   MISSIONARY SAID “YOU CAN GIVE WITHOUT LOVING, YOU CANNOT LOVE WITHOUT GIVING” 

• The whole idea of generosity – of giving – starts with God. 

 WHAT IS IT YOU TREASURE?                                

SCRIPTURE MATTEW 6:19 

   “DO NOT STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES ON EARTH, WHERE MOTHS AND VERMIN DESTROY, AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK IN AND STEAL.” 

SCRPITURE MATTHEW 6:20 

  20. BUT STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE MOTHS AND VERMIN DO NOT DESTROY, AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK IN AND STEAL.  

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:21 

  21. FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO.  

• YOU COULD ARGUE IF YOU WANT ABOUT TITHING 

• CANNOT ARGUE THAT JESUS DIDN’T CARE  

NUMBERS 

   16/38 PARABLES- MONEY OR POSSESSIONS 

2300 VERSES 

• THERE ARE MORE THAN 2300 VERSES ON THIS.  

WORD BELIEVE APPEARS 272 TIMES 

WORD PRAY APPEARS 371 TIMES 

WORD LOVE APPEARS 714 TIMES 

WORD GIVE APPEARS 2152 TIMES 

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:24 

  24. “NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS. EITHER YOU WILL HATE THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER, OR YOU WILL BE DEVOTED TO THE ONE 

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:24                         

   AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD AND MONEY.  

• DOESN’T SAY YOU WILL LOVE 1 AND LIKE THE OTHER- DOESN’T SAY LOVE AND TOLERATE  

DOESN’T SAY CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD AND FAME 

DOESN’T SAY CANNOT SERVE GOD AND COUNTRY 

DOESN’T SAY CANNOT SERVE GOD AND SEX 

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:25 

  25. THEREFORE, I TELL YOU, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOU WILL EAT OR DRINK; OR ABOUT YOUR BODY, WHAT YOU WILL WEAR.  

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:25 

  25. IS NOT LIFE MORE THAN FOOD, AND THE BODY MORE THAN CLOTHES. (MOTHS DESTROY) 

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:26 

  26. LOOK AT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR; THEY DO NOT SOW OR REAP OR STORE AWAY IN BARNS, AND YET YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM.  

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:27 

  27. CAN ANY ONE OF YOU BY WORRYING ADD A SINGLE HOUR TO YOUR LIFE.  

BIRDS- BRIAN CHARETTE 

MATTHEW A TAX COLLECTOR WRITES THESE WORDS 

PICTURE JOHN WESLEY                              

• [Wesley] had just finished buying some pictures for his room when one of the chambermaids came to his door. It was a winter day and he noticed that she had only a thin linen gown to wear for protection against the cold. He reached into his pocket to give her some money for a coat, and found he had little left. It struck him that the Lord was not pleased with how he had spent his money.  

• Perhaps as a result of this incident, in 1731 Wesley began to limit his expenses so he would have more money to give to the poor. He records that one year his income was £30, and his living expenses £28, so he had £2 to give away. The next year, his income doubled, but he still lived on £28 and gave £32 away. In the third year, his income jumped to £90; again he lived on £28, giving £62 away. The fourth year, he made £120, lived again on £28, and gave £92 to the poor. 

• HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED STINGY JOYFUL PEOPLE? 

• HAVE YOU MET GENEROUS MISERABLE PEOPLE? 

• SOCIALOGIST HAVE SO MANY STATS ON GENEROSITY CONNECTED TO A PERSONS JOY 

• BILL MAGNUSSON PIANO TUNER  

• HEART STRANGLEY WARMED BY GENEROSITY 

SCRIPTURE MATHEW 6:31 

  SO DO NOT WORRY, SAYING, “WHAT SHALL WE EAT? OR WHAT SHALL WE DRINK? OR WHAT SHALL WE WEAR? 

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:32 

  32. FOR THE PAGANS RUN AFTER ALL THESE THINGS, AND YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED THEM.  

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:33 

  33. BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTOUESNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL.  

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:34 

  34. THEREFORE DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, FOR TOMORROW WILL WORRY ABOUT ITSELF. EACH DAY HAS ENOUGH TROUBLE OF ITS OWN.” 

THANKS LIVING 

GOD DOESN’T WANT SOMETHING FROM US 

HE WANTS SOMETHING FOR US  

LUKE 22 

“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 

¹⁹And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 

²⁰In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.^[a] 2 

https://www.bible.com/events/49515652

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus 

Generosity Part 1 

God, the Father of Generosity. 

Today we are starting our new teaching series “Generosity”. 

Over the next few weeks we will explore our generous God’s will for his people. This is journey, this study is not just about giving of our money. It’s about a lifestyle of generosity, where we give of ourselves in all areas of our lives. 

Our series begins today by seeking to understand the great and lavish generosity of the Lord, and to understand that his generosity is our model for life. 

So, what is generosity? 

Simply defined, generosity is the quality of being generous. To be generous means to be liberal in giving. Open handed. 

A willingness to give help or support, especially more than usual, or expected. Generosity is the voluntary, unselfish giving of money, time, attention, or other resources. That’s generosity. 

We can be generous with many things. 

Our time. In our busy and overwhelmed schedule, we can give time doing something for others. 

Our talents. We can use our abilities and gifts to benefit others. 

Our treasure. We can give our money and other material resources. 

Our touch. We can give ourselves in relationship to others. 

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬-‭18‬‬ 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 

As we seek to understand the Lords heart of generosity, we can take a moment to realize that every good thing in our lives, in our world- they are gifts from God. We enjoy them because God has given them. 

Generosity all starts with God, and he gives us more than just good things to enjoy. Verse 18 says he gives us so much more. 

God chose to offer us new life in Christ Jesus- the word of truth. That we could have hope, that we could have peace, that we could be forgiven and saved- is all a gift of God. 

The Lord’s generosity didn’t just compel him to give us lots of good things. His love compelled him to give us his absolute very best. 

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬‬ 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

The Lord loves us, you, and me so much that he gave… In God’s kingdom, Love is always accompanied by action. 

The generous heart of God, is good news for the whole world, and it’s the model for his children, for us to follow after. That we too, as we receive our life from him, would also model our generosity after his. 

That’s what it means to be generous. That our love would be accompanied by action, by giving. 

Giving of ourselves, our time, talent, treasures, touch. Giving not because we have to, but because we want to. 

That’s generosity. 

Dependence of God’s Strength

Last week we finished up our Series on Grace is greater! 

Grace – the undeserved mercy and kindness of God – is greater than our than our 

Brokenness 

Guilt 

Wounds 

Despair 

And our Weakness 

That was pastor Kevin’s message last week. God’s grace is greater than your weakness – That was a new concept for some of you. You’ve been taught to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, to grow a backbone, that toughness and strength is success. You may have been asking since last week’s message, are they telling me it’s okay to be weak? 

YES, and even greater, (pause) God meets you there. 

Yes. In your weakness. 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 reminds us 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (Did you hear that?) Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

Can that be right? I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

This seems BACKWARDS, crazy even! 

You are right! It certainly would be WITHOUT JESUS! 

LET’S PRAY 

What are we discovering here in 2 Corinthians? 

That NOT ONLY is His grace greater than and sufficient for my weakness, but we can also depend on His STRENTH. Count on HIM TO STRENGTHEN you. 

I’m not talking about the kind of strength it would require for me to lift this weight (this is more my speed – right here) 

I might surprise you though – I remember when Michael was remodeling our upstairs bathroom, he was removing an old iron bathtub and needed my help. As I faced this ridiculously heavy mammoth bathtub – I asked myself doesn’t he have any friends he can call. As I recall, I asked this question out loud! He said you’ve got this babe – he had broken it into pieces but it was still solid dead weight. I apparently didn’t have a very good attitude or the willingness he desired as we partnered on this task and at some point in the process he said to me, now get this, “Come on. Man up and pick up the tub”. Well, his plan worked! I was completely undone that he had the audacity to tell me to man up and I picked up that tub and moved it with strength only pure aggravation could bring. My dear husband still laughs about this moment, and I can still feel fire in my belly when I remember it. See this is a different kind of strength and maybe not strength at all. The true strength came when I overcame my urge to clobber him with a piece of bathtub. 

Think about it… 

Have you ever been PLACED SOMEWHERE or GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY you knew was way beyond your capacity? You wondered WHY ME? ARE THEY SURE? 

I have, and in God’s goodness and sovereignty, He has allowed it many times and continues to do so in my life. 

Over and over again, I have had to face my weaknesses. 

Here’s one example: 

Here are some pictures of me when I was between 22 and 24 years old. I was beginning my career as a Long-Term Care Administrator. As you can see, I tried to cut my hair in multiple styles. See, I thought this effort would help me look older and look the part. But let me assure you that respect is not earned and people are not fooled by a bad haircut!!! 

See I was given the opportunity to lead folks that had years more experience, some more than 2-3x my age, the pressures of this industry were intense, the responsibility huge. I had great passion, but this was all way bigger than me. 

I was weak – very weak. I did NOT have what it takes in that situation. I KNEW it. 

Folks, that first real job of my career could have gone very badly for me. 

But I learned something really important as I looked my weakness in the eye. 

Pastor Kevin said last week that the beauty of our weakness is that it reminds us to get out of the way. 

The Lord began to develop in me the truth that His grace was sufficient and that in my weakness, His strength was made perfect. 

In fact, it could ONLY be made perfect in my weaknesses. As strange as that sounds. 

Through this I began to resonate with David and though no one had physically tried to kill me as David faced, there were days that I physically and emotionally thought it may just be the end of me. 

Anyone know what I’m talking about? 

Weak to the point of desperation. 

Because the Lord allowed this battle – I drew closer to Him, trusted him, cried out to Him and learned that the song of David in Psalm 18 was one I could proclaim as well. 

David wrote this song as a song of Praise and Deliverance, after the Lord saved him from the hands of many enemies and from the hands of a very jealous King Saul, who was trying desperately to kill David – the one who would take his place as king. This Psalm is almost verbatim to 2 Samuel 22. 

It begins: 

This is Psalm 18 starting in verse 1. 

1 I love you, LORD, my strength. 

2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield[b] and the horn[c] of my salvation, my stronghold. 

David uses strong military language here to describe who the Lord is to Him. He used 5 military symbols 

(And remember, David is describing God, not himself. God is, in essence, what David is not.) 

A rock – an immovable foundation that cannot be shaken 

A fortress – a place of safety where the enemy can’t follow 

A shield – a barrier between us and harm 

A horn of salvation – (the horn of an animal is a source of strength and successful combat) because God has the power and strength to save 

And finally 

A stronghold – a place high above our enemies 

This imagery became real to me as I trusted him to walk in the daily battle with me and I saw his power and hand. 

Is He all of those things to you? Even in this moment? 

Are you willing to see it? His great strength working in your weakness? 

3 I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. 4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. (are any of you overwhelmed this morning?) 5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 

6 In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. 

Are you lifting the cries of your heart to the one who will hear you and strengthen you? 

The Lord hears David and He is helped. 

Reminds me of Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who STRENGTHENS me. 

We see in verse 20: 

20 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 

Oh Angela, this is where this ends for me, I can’t pray this part of Davids prayer. I want to but I have not remained righteous in His sight. 

This is our reminder that to cry out for His strength is an INVITATION. An invitation to salvation and all He has for us. 

This is not a stopping point but an opportunity for a new beginning In Him. 

If you know Davids story it was not the picture of purity. 

In fact we do think of David and his heroics…but we know him just as much for his great weaknesses. 

but He returned to God knowing HE was weak, and the Lord was His strength and salvation. 

We can be blameless in Him in His strength. 

He goes on to tell us in vs 30-33 

30 As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 32 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. 

This depicts a man who by human standards was a warrior – but David knew that the Lord was the only one that could save him, strengthen him, and keep him. 

He doesn’t promise to remove all our obstacles; He can deliver us or see us through it. 

See He strengthens us during the battle and hardship. If we trust Him, He allows us to grow in true knowledge of who He is. This knowledge is fertile soil for our faith to grow. 

So, what keeps us from drawing on this power and strength? Why do we remain in utter weakness or struggle trying to muster up our own strength? 

Why do we forget our ROCK? 

Let’s consider 2 possibilities. 

There are those of you in the room that would testify that without relying on God’s strength – there would be no way you would be here today. He has seen you through and strengthened you in times of 

Loss 

Heart break 

Betrayal 

Sickness 

Exhaustion 

And Brokenness 

He has been the lifter of my head, my refuge, my light in the darkness – the reason I have had the strength to continue. 

There are also those of you in the room who are fresh in your faith, and you are leaning in, saying “tell me more”! 

You will dive into His word – searching to make these prayers your own. You want to know Him, and you will trust Him to be your strength and song – you will desire Him and find Him. 

Trust Him dear one – He is available. Cry out. 

And there are those here that would say, I have asked him into my heart. I know He is the way to heaven – I believe. But it stops there. 

See there are those of us that miss out on His strength because we leave His blessing on the table. We invite him to save us, but we forget there is life in him – we live on the crumbs and not the feast of His goodness. See He doesn’t leave us on our own, He sent us His spirit, and through Him He strengthens us and gives us life until we make it home. 

Will you cry out for more of Him this morning? 

Would you dive into His word and make these prayers your own? 

The second thing that I think keeps us in our weakness is that we forget who we are asking, we let busyness interfere, we grow numb to His power, and might that is available to us. 

The same power that raised Jesus to the dead is alive in us as believers. 

Let me quote someone we love: “Are you listening?” 

I want to invite you to reflect on the power and goodness of the God that we have the privilege to cry out to – the God who not only saves us but is intimately involved in our lives. YOUR LIFE. 

The one who sees and strengthens you, who left His holy spirit as our helper to fill us with his might for His glory. 

I hope that, beginning today you will see your weaknesses, your brokenness differently. 

As His opportunity to show Himself strong in your life. To come through for you when you don’t expect Him to. 

You know Him, don’t you? 

Fire in His eyes 

Healing in His veins 

Everywhere His glory on display… 

You are invited to stand, sit, kneel, these alters are open – but I invite you to reflect on WHO we are trusting as we cry out for strength, and rely on His power and might. Let’s worship our awesome God together. 

BAND – PHIL WICKHAMS – AWESOME GOD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFOe4c08dHc 

Please continue to pray as we worship 

Just like David as He ran for His life, He cried out and found His strength in the God who saw Him. The one who reigns. He is available to you this morning. Please come – there are folks available to pray with you. You are welcome here (altars).