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For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. NIVUK

The truth is that, although of course we lead normal human lives, the battle we are fighting is on the spiritual level.  J.B. Phillips

Here are three incontrovertible facts:

1. Christians are at war;
2. Christians have to fight in the world;
3. Christians don’t (or shouldn’t) fight in worldly ways.

So, Christians are at war! Warren Wiersbe said, ‘The Christian life is a battle ground, not a playground.’ Don’t we feel the truth of this – painfully – at times?

But it is a battle fought out in the world. Jesus, in His prayer for His disciples, in John 17 says: ”My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (v.15).

I once heard a sermon that began something like this: ‘When you become a Christian you make at least two discoveries: ‘The first is that you have made a whole lot of new friends – and that’s good; the second is that you have made a whole lot of new enemies – and that’s not so good!.’

But our enemies are spiritual, rather than physical. Although some people may seem to be our enemies, they aren’t really (see Eph.6:10). So we don’t fight with tanks, bombs, bullets etc (or even things like slander and character assassination).

This is good news, as we will see in the next reading.

And now a personal but most urgent matter; I write in the gentle but firm spirit of Christ. I hear that I’m being painted as cringing and wishy-washy when I’m with you, but harsh and demanding when at a safe distance writing letters. Please don’t force me to take a hard line when I’m present with you. Don’t think that I’ll hesitate a single minute to stand up to those who say I’m an unprincipled opportunist. Then they’ll have to eat their words. The Message.

Paul’s ”meekness and gentleness” were not to be misunderstood. There were people who were saying, in effect, ‘Oh that Paul can sound tough in his letters, but when you’re face to face with him you find he’s a bit of a mouse.’ So Paul wanted to be understood. His gentleness did not mean he was unwilling to confront and discipline church members where necessary. Let no one doubt that he was ready to take any necessary action. The truth matters, and lies must not be permitted to prevail.

In verses 8-11 he goes on to say ” I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.

I’m not trying to frighten you by my letters.  For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!” ¹¹ Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away.” NLT

Gentleness is not incompatible with rebuke, as good parents certainly know.

” Love precedes discipline” – John Owen

”Discipline is difficult, painful, and often heartrending. It is not that we should not love the offenders, but that we should love Christ, His church, and His Word even more. Our love to the offenders is not to be sentimental tolerance but correcting love” – John MacArthur

 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ…ESVUK

Sadly, there have been, and there no doubt are, aggressive and tyrannical church leaders. Some may even like and applaud this style, seeing it as dynamic and charismatic, and the way to get things done. But it was not Paul’s way, and it certainly was not the way of Jesus, who modelled servant leadership:

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will bring justice to the nations.
² He will not shout or cry out,
    or raise his voice in the streets.
³ A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out. Isaiah 42:1-3a NIV.

”Leaders have power, but power is safe only in the hands of those who humble themselves to serve.” – John Stott

Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! NLT

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! ESVUK

As we have seen, these two magnificent chapters about Christian giving, ultimately flow from the Person and Work of Christ. In His generous and sacrificial self-giving, He is our great example:

”For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” 2 Cor.8:9 ESVUK.

It is generally believed that this last statement in chapter 9 refers to the ”inexpressible” or ”indescribable” gift of Jesus Himself. How appropriate, then, for this Easter week-end.

Some commentators take it to refer to the gift of God’s grace manifested in the giving of the Corinthians. You can see how this fits the context.

But R.V.G Tasker thinks that it is ‘…probable, as Chrysostom suggested, that Paul, as he thinks of the divine grace bestowed on the Corinthians and remembers that all grace for the Christian flows from Calvary, because unredeemed men are strangers to that grace and because redemption was made on the cross and nowhere else, is led to burst into a cry of thanksgiving for the divine gift which inspires all gifts, the gift of God’s own Son.’ (Tyndale New Testament Commentary)

And yet further, men will pray for you and feel drawn to you because you have obviously received a generous measure of the grace of God. J.B. Phillips

And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. NLT

In early years of ministry, like many pastors, I found that money was often short (or, at the very least tight). I am thankful for every experience, because I can truthfully say, along with many other believers, that I proved God’s faithfulness time and again. He showed that He knew exactly where I was, and that He cared, and He could and would provide.

I think of two occasions in particular when I received gifts from people I hardly knew. While I was profoundly thankful to God for His supply, I also felt a deep heart-bond with these people. Still today, many years later, I remember their names, and will always be grateful for their availability to be channels of blessing to others.

I think this is something of what Paul is saying will happen when the Corinthians give.

Today, of course, is Good Friday, and we remember that Jesus is the Father’s greatest gift to us. If He gave us His Son, to meet our greatest and gravest need, surely He will provide everything else that is needful? Paul puts it like this:

”He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32 NIV

”He that did not hesitate to spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—can we not trust such a God to give us, with him, everything else that we can need?” J.B. Phillips

David Pawson told a story about a father whose son (also a David) went to China as a missionary. This dad said, ‘The greatest gift I ever gave to China was David. After that, everything was easy.’

Moreover, your very giving proves the reality of your faith, and that means that men thank God that you practise the Gospel that you profess to believe in, as well as for the actual gifts you make to them and to others. J.B. Phillips.

 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. NLT

Obedience does not make anyone a Christian. We cannot be obedient enough to save ourselves. Nevertheless, authentic Christianity shows itself in obedience. True believers not only ”profess” the Gospel, but possess it’s reality, and demonstrate it in godly living.

Giving is a part of this.

Christians are ”…created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph.2:10). Our giving is one of these ”good works”.

James famously says that ”…faith without deeds is dead” (Jas.2:26). Christian giving is one of these deeds.

So, says Paul, those who are the recipients of our giving are full of praise to God, not only for the gifts themselves, but to see the work of God in human lives. When the natural selfishness and acquisitiveness of human flesh is crucified, and there is an overflow of generosity, this is nothing other than a work of grace. People recognise it, are inspired by it, and are deeply thankful for it.

John Macarthur said, ” God made all of His creation to give. He made the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds, the earth, the plants to give. He also designed His supreme creation, man, to give. But fallen man is the most reluctant giver in all of God’s creation.”

However, conversion supernaturally changes the human heart, and when others see this and benefit from it, they want to thank God.

 He who gives the seed to the sower and turns that seed into bread to eat, will give you the seed of generosity to sow, and, for harvest, the satisfying bread of good deeds well done. The more you are enriched by God the more scope there will be for generous giving, and your gifts, administered through us, will mean that many will thank God. For your giving does not end in meeting the wants of your fellow-Christians. It also results in an overflowing tide of thanksgiving to God. J.B. Phillips

Our giving is an important part of our worship. It is ultimately about glorifying God.

Was Paul concerned to meet the needs of the famine affected Christians in Judea? Did he want them to have bread on their tables? He most certainly did. This much was not in doubt. He was going to great lengths, involving careful planning, to ensure that there would be parity across the churches. But even beyond this noble aspiration there lay his greatest desire: to see God thanked as the supreme motivator of Christian giving, and the ultimate provider of all that His people ever receive.

 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

¹¹ Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. NLT

The Lord will provide.

He is the One who superintends the entire process that gets bread on to our tables, and into our stomachs. The farmer plays his part, of course, but he/she would have no seed to sow apart from the Lord’s generous provision. Where does the seed come from? Well, some will give a quite legitimate scientific explanation, describing biological processes and so on. But behind it all, and over it all, there stands the Lord, the life-giver. He it is who also provides us with financial ”seed” to sow for the benefit of others (see vv.6-9).

But the Lord will also increase what we have, so that we may give more. We do not need to be shy about the Biblical principle that the Lord regularly enlarges the store of those who give. But neither should we miss the point that we are not blessed for selfish hoarding, but for generous sharing.

He who gives the seed to the sower and turns that seed into bread to eat, will give you the seed of generosity to sow, and, for harvest, the satisfying bread of good deeds well done. The more you are enriched by God the more scope there will be for generous giving… J.B.Phillips

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away…The Message

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. ⁹ As the Scriptures say,

“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
    Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” NLT

 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
    giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
    never run out, never wear out. The Message

As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures for ever.” (verse 9, ESVUK)

I heard a story about a pastor who, one day, said to his congregation, ‘The good news is that the Lord has all the money required for…(whatever the project was); the bad news is it’s in your wallets!’

But if we understand this passage correctly, this is not ‘bad news’ at all. It is indeed the best news that we get to be partners with God in giving: to be channels of his blessing to others. As one generous man said to another, when giving a large gift, ‘No need to thank me. I’m just the Lord’s errand boy.’ One of the chief ways that our God gives ”freely” to others is through His people.

The quotation in verse 9 is from Psalm 112:9. It speaks of the person who scatters blessing to the poor, and says their ”righteousness” will last ”for ever.” It doesn’t mean that they are made right with God by the action of giving. They not earning merit. But those who are right with God, through faith, overflow with good deeds that are in some real sense ‘eternal’.

”…the whole poem is a celebration of those who fear and trust the Lord, and in particular of their generosity and merciful behaviour towards their neighbours, particularly the poor. Once again Paul is inviting the Corinthians to step inside the Biblical portrait and discover a whole new identity, not simply to do something strange because he tells them to.’ Tom Wright.