(2 Corinthians 8:1-7)
Our new budget of $6000 per week is now in effect
as a result of the change in oversight of the "Truth for the world" work.
We live in a time and place of great opportunities to evangelize the lost
world and to edify those who are saved. As you consider the increased budget
(which is 25% over our average for the year of $4800 per week), please
read 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 with the following points in mind:
Verse 1: It is by the grace of God that we have our opportunities.
Verse 2: We can give properly in any circumstance.
Verse 3: Our giving must be out of the ability of
our very souls.
Verse 4: We must have a goal to accomplish the task
at hand.
Verse 5: We must first give ourselves to the Lord.
Verses 6,7: There will be wonderful results when
we follow God’s way.
Now, please finish your meditation on giving by reading
all of 2 Corinthians 8 and 9.
The amazing giving of the Corinthians was accomplished
in GREAT AFFLICTION. Let us do our best while we live in a time of GREAT
ABUNDANCE and OPPORTUNITY!
— Skip
Psalm 20: The Name of the Lord
"...but we will remember the name of the Lord our God."
.."
Here is a question that could receive a wide variety of answers: "What does your name mean to you?" This psalm is a good starting point for us to learn how important the Lord’s name is to Him and how important it ought to be to us.
In the New Testament, we are taught
that the Father gave the Son a name that is above every name (Philippians
2:9-11), and that everything we do or say in our lives is to be done in
His name (Colossians 3:17). In the light of these New Testament facts,
let us learn five things that are important about His name "in the day
of—"
I. Trouble (vv. 1-3).
II. Desire (vv. 4,5).
III. Salvation (v. 6).
IV. Trust (vv. 7,8).
V. My Call (v. 9).
May the LORD answer you in the day of
trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob
defend you; May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings, and
accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah" (vv. 1-3).
These verses teach that I need to remember His name in the day of trouble. I need to notice how "the day of trouble" is connected with the following:
- The need for defense from the God of Jacob.
- Help from the sanctuary (His dwelling place).
- Strength from Zion (His reigning place).
- Remembrance of my offerings (I continue to worship—even when I am in trouble).
- Acceptance of my offerings (I am worshiping properly—in spirit and in truth; John 4:23,24).
"May He grant you according to your heart's desire, and fulfill all your purpose. We will
rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions" (vv. 4,5).
These verses teach that I need to remember His name in the day of my heart’s desire. What is my heart’s desire—right now?? Is it something that God would approve of? Am I willing to present it to Him? If so, am I willing to turn over the fulfilling of my heart’s desire according to how He decides to grant (give) it? David proceeded in verse 5 to affirm that "we" will accept the answers to our petitions (prayers, requests; 1 Samuel 1:17,27). Acceptance of His answers will—
- Consider His answers to be "salvation."
- Lead me to set up "banners" to His name!
- Be truly joyful in my eyes.
This verse teaches that I need to remember
His name in the day of salvation. As the Lord’s "anointed," David knew
that God was the strong, answering savior. He had often been "saved," physically
and spiritually, by Jehovah. His claim is meant to also be a lesson for
me. As a Christian, I am one of God’s elect, chosen people (Ephesians 1:4;
1 Peter 2:5-12). His right hand is able to save (deliver, help, give victory)
today from heaven as I call upon Him for answers.
"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright" (vv. 7,8).
These verses teach that I need to remember
His name in the day of trust. The songwriter put it this way:
"Some build their hopes on the everdrifting sand;
Some on their fame or their treasure or their land;
Mine’s on the Rock that forever shall stand,
Jesus, the ‘Rock of Ages.’"
(Tullius C. O’Kane, 1872)
It really does matter where I choose
to put my trust! Today, I am hearing from every side that it is okay for
me to put my trust in chariots, horses, fame, treasure, land, Buddha, the
Pope, feelings, politics, the economy—and as long as I really believe that
it makes sense, it will all turn out okay. But David is telling me that
if I do this, I will "bow down and fall"! Only if I trust in the name
of Jehovah my God can I hope to "rise and stand up straight"!
"Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call" (v. 9).
This verse teaches that I need to remember His name in the day of my call to Him. Any day, any trouble, is a day or a trouble when this King will answer His calls! I will call upon the Lord—I will let the God of my salvation be exalted (Psalm 18:3,46)!
As we close our study of this psalm, let us consider a list of some
of the names of God:
Jehovah (Genesis 2:4; Exodus 3:13-15)
God Sees (Genesis 16:13,14): El Roi
God Almighty (Genesis 17:1-8; Exodus 6:2,3): El Shaddai
God Provides (Genesis 22): Jehovah-Jireh
God of Hosts (1 Samuel 1:3): Jehovah Sabaoth
God is Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:1-6):
Jehovah Tsidkemu)
God is my Banner (Exodus 17:1-16): Jehovah Nissi
God is Love (1 John 4:8,16)
God is Healer (Exodus 15:22-26): Jehovah Raphah
God is There (Ezekiel 48:35): Jehovah Shammah
I can depend on Him for everything, so I will depend on Him forever. And I will be thankful.
— Skip Andrews
Next Week: Psalm 21:
When I look up, I get a very good view of the past,
present, and future.
