ABOUNDING IN THE GRACE OF PENTECOSTAL SACRIFICIAL GIVING

ABOUNDING IN THE GRACE OF PENTECOSTAL SACRIFICIAL GIVING

By Pastor William Boachie-Ansah

Texts: Acts 4:34-35; 2 Corinthians 8:1-10; Acts 2: 44-46

"But since you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Cor 8:7

1.0. Introduction - "There’s no Pentecost without plenty cost" 

One of the basic core values of our noble church, the church of Pentecost is sacrificial giving. Pentecostal sacrificial giving could be traced from the Bible in Acts. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, many gifts were poured upon the believers, apart from speaking in tongues.. Pentecostal sacrificial giving refers to the practice of giving tithes, offerings, and other forms of contributions, emphasizing the spiritual principle that giving is a form of worship and an essential part of Christian life.

In Acts 2:44-45, Early Christians shared everything in common and gave to anyone in need. This reflects a communal and sacrificial approach to giving. And in Acts 4:34-35. The Holy Spirit moved many believers who sold properties and brought the proceeds to the apostles' feet to be distributed to anyone who had need. The sacrificial element in such a great giving grace can never be overemphsized.

The Apostle Paul, while addressing the Corinthian church, highlights a vital aspect of Christian living — the grace of generous, sacrificial giving. As we explore this, let us open our hearts and minds to understand how we too, can abound in this grace, thereby experiencing the fullness of God's blessings and purposes in our lives.

2.0. Understanding the Context of the Bible text

The context of 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 involves Paul’s appeal to the Corinthian believers to contribute to the relief of the saints in Jerusalem. Paul commends the Macedonian churches for their generosity despite their own trials and poverty. He then encourages the Corinthians — recipients of numerous spiritual blessings — to also excel in sacrificial giving.

Paul stresses that excelling in sacrificial giving is an extension of various divine graces already present in the church: faith, effective speech, deep knowledge, seriousness of purpose, and heartfelt love. Just as they excel in these areas, Paul urges the believers to abound in the grace of giving.

There are many people in the church today who are very good in almost everything, except in sacrificial giving…thats how the the church in Corinth was. They were excellent in the operation of all spiritual gifts. They excelled in speaking in tongues. They could prophesy divine oracles from morning to evening if given the opportunity. Paul had to restrict prophesying to only three at a time to allow more room for other things in their church activities. Yet when it became needful for all churches to raise funds to support the famishing saints in Jerusalem, they were found wanting… the Macedonian churches which were more or less rural ones, had been able to give more than expected.... yet, the great city church filled with big, powerful and very influencial high class people of God, had not been able to mobilize anything!

In an attempt to motivate the church to give, Paul was highy commending the Macedonian church… will the members and leaders take that in good faith? There are many who find it offensive when you compare their performance with others..

To be continued.

©2024 Pastor William Boachie-Ansah

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