And God's word on Sunday mornings, and it's been a couple weeks now, we're going through

2nd Corinthians chapter by chapter, verse by verse. We completed chapter 8, like last year, literally,

right? And so we're going to pick it up in chapter 9 and we're actually Lord willing going to finish

the entire chapter today.

So if you are there in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 9, I'll ask you to stand if you're

able.

If not that's all right, you can follow along as I read.

The Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit is writing to the church in Corinth,

and verse 1 says, there is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord's people,

for I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians telling them that

since last year you in Akei were ready to give and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.

But verse 3, I am sending the brothers in order, had our boasting about you in this matter, should not

prove hollow, but that you may be ready as I said you would be.

For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we not to say anything

about you would be ashamed of having been so confident.

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements

for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift,

not as one grudgingly given. Remember this verse six. Whoever sows sparingly will also reap

sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

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.

And God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things, at all times,

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