2Cor.8 and verse 1 reads.
2Cor.8:1] Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
When a church teaches God’s word they are blessed. Woe to those that don’t. Let’s go to Ezekiel 13 and read.
Eze.13:3] Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
The Lord is talking to the teachers at our pulpits. Calling them foolish because they teach out of their own thoughts and not God’s word. But to show you he is talking about the Rapture doctrine let’s skip down to verse 20 and read.
Eze.13:20] Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.
But when we teach the Word of God as he himself has interpreted it for us, for our Bread, it is for Life. Back to 2Cor.8 and verse 2 reads.
2Cor.8:2] How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Being rich with blessings from God is worth all the money in the world.
2Cor.8:3] For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
This they did of their own accord and I Paul am a witness to. Speaking ahead of what is written next.
2Cor.8:4] Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
Talking about giving money to the saints, the apostles still in Jerusalem, for the church. A collection if you will.
2Cor.8:5] And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
It was God’s will and not the will of Paul.
2Cor.8:6] Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
Titus was a man of God who could “Get it done”. He was the one who brought them to the LORD.
2Cor.8:7] Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
Notice that there were five things mentioned here. 5 is Grace, unmerited favor. These five things allow God’s blessings of Grace.
2Cor.8:8] I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
This is not a law from God but a observance of Paul. Again, Paul is very proud of this church.
2Cor.8:9] For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Jesus’s uncle Joseph of Arimathea happened to be very rich, he owned tin mines in Great Britain. But what this is saying is Jesus went on the road to preach Salvation to Israel. But, let’s go to Revelations 2 and begin with verse 8.
Rev.2:8] And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Smyrna is one of only two churches that Jesus agreed with, the other being Philadelphia.
Rev.2:9] I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
We learn here that poverty is not akin to money but worldly things. We do not follow the world but we follow the word of God. Jesus is the Living Word. And those that call themselves Jews and do lie are the Kenites (very important to understand the parable of the fig tree). Remember Satan loves the pulpit. Back to 2Cor.8 and verse 10 reads.
2Cor.8:10] And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
Again, Paul is giving his advice, and not a commandment from God.
2Cor.8:11] Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
[12] For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
Now we can understand “riches”. Riches are the blessings from God, and we must have a willing mind to receive them.
2Cor.8:13] For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
Not that we are supposed to give a lot, but what we can.
2Cor.8:14] But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
Speaking of the tithes that they are taking for the apostles in Jerusalem. Give what you can, for it is for those that feed you the Word of God.
2Cor.8:15] As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
This is talking about how when you do God’s will he will provide. God will provide that Manna from heaven, the bread of Life. Written in Exodus 16:18 and it reads.
Exo.16:18] And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
This is a very important verse for understanding the Word of God. The Word of God is that manna from heaven. Remember Jesus would say “I Am that bread of Life.” Let’s go to Revelations and begin with 1:3 and it reads.
Rev.1:3] Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
The time is at hand is for the end times. And Rev.2:17 reads.
Rev.2:17] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
We will come to this stone at a later study. But what I want you to understand is the Lord will give you his word with understanding when you come to his word and read it. Back to 2Cor.8 and verse 16 reads.
2Cor.8:16] But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
A gift given to Titus from God, to come and teach you in Corinth.
2Cor.8:17] For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
Titus was certainly a willing participant for the LORD.
2Cor.8:18] And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
[19] And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
Sent to feed you. I believe he is speaking of Luke, who also was Paul’s scribe, and writer of the Gospel of Luke.
2Cor.8:20] Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
[21] Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
We are not accountable for anything of you. Paul was a tent maker and pulled his own weight.
2Cor.8:22] And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
[23] Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
Titus and Luke have devoted their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. And also bring his ministries to them.
2Cor.8:24] Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Showing that he was proud of them. A lot given in today’s study, let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible