Recall what happened in Acts 2—when the Spirit of God descended on the upper room where Christ’s followers were waiting with great expectation.

That mighty outpouring spread like wildfire, with thousands being born again and healing miracles taking place. And what happened next? There was no lack! In addition to all the mighty spiritual miracles, God quickly began blessing the church so they could be the financial foundation for all that would happen during the coming weeks, months, and years of the first-century church.

I’ve just spent a moving, anointed season in prayer and study, reading portions of chapters 8 and 9 from 2 Corinthians. I’m writing this email because I feel God placed this word in my heart specifically to share with my precious partners for such a time as this.

What does God’s Word really say about abundance?

Blessings in Every Area of Your Life

Even though this passage of Scripture was written by the apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, nearly 20 centuries ago to both the church in Corinth and Christians in the surrounding province of Achaea, in modern-day Greece, the message is timeless:

God wants to pour out bountiful blessings on you in every area of your life, not only spiritually, not only emotionally, not only physically, but also financially!

We have such a beautiful declaration of God’s love in the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth. What he writes specifically in chapters 8 and 9 is such a clear explanation of the bountiful blessings to be poured out upon a believer’s life.

Even though he was writing to the church in Corinth, he made a significant reference to two other early fellowships—first to the church in Jerusalem, that went through a famine and troubles, and secondly about the church in Macedonia, who had given liberally with hearts overflowing to help believers in the Holy City. This generous offering was given, even though believers in Macedonia were going through massive trials themselves.

The purpose of the passage in 2 Corinthians was to prepare the church in Corinth, like the Macedonian church, to also participate generously in the offering to the Jerusalem church.

Paul wrote:

For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. (2 Corinthians 8:3-4, NKJV)

The words here are interesting and meaningful, for the Macedonian Christians were extolled for first giving themselves to the Lord, then for giving so lovingly to help others.

During the remainder of chapter 8 and throughout chapter 9, Paul uses this Christ-like example as an example of giving for all believers.

Above all, the apostle points to Jesus as the ultimate Example, for He Himself experienced giving all that we might be blessed in every way!

7 Powerful Guidelines from 2 Corinthians 8 and 9

The light of the world who was perfect in every way took upon Himself our sins. He who was glory and beauty took upon Himself our shame. He who is the source of all financial blessing, He who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, took upon Himself our poverty that we might be delivered from poverty and know His bountiful blessings.

With that in mind, Paul offers instructions for giving in the next verses to the church:

1. God is looking to bless those with a willingness to give.
   “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12). God doesn’t expect us to give something we don’t have, but He does desire for us to be willing to give from what we do have in our hands.

2. God wants to bless those who give liberally to those in need.
   “For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality” (2 Corinthians 8:13-14).

3. God desires to bless those who prepare to minister generously to the saints and the needs of the church.
   “Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation” (2 Corinthians 9:5). The word “generous” in this verse can also be translated as “bountiful.” He spotlights the fact that God doesn’t want us to give grudgingly, forced, or manipulated.

4. God wants us to sow properly and purposefully.
   “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). The word “necessity” means “compulsion.” God doesn’t want believers to feel forced to give, but to give because they love Him so much that they are joyful in building the Kingdom. The Greek word for “cheerful” is “joyful.” God is looking for men and women who will give cheerfully and joyfully.

5. God wants to pour out bountiful blessings upon believers.
   “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). The word “bountifully” means “in blessings.” Every time we give to bless the work of God, those blessings come back to us multiplied. He blesses us so much more than we can ever bless Him.

6. God desires that our giving should be equal to our faith, our speech (the way we minister), our knowledge of the Lord, our diligence for Him, and our love for Christ!
   Paul the apostle told the church in Corinth, “as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also” (2 Corinthians 8:7). He was referring to abounding in giving.

7. Giving to God’s work proves our love to the Lord.
   Notice what Paul wrote next: “I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others” (2 Corinthians 8:8). Every time you and I give, we should remember that our giving should equal our faith and our love for the Lord. Each time we give, we are telling Him how much we love Him!

When we give as God desires, only then can He make all grace abound to us, that we will have all sufficiency in all things and abundance for every good work. IN ALL THINGS!

Let me emphasize again: Our giving proves to God our love for Him. Then He responds by fulfilling all things in one’s life, including spiritual things we lack, emotional things we lack, physical things we lack, and financial things we lack!

We are not buying His love. Of course not! But our love in giving moves Him in such a way that He blesses in all areas of life.

When we show our love to Him in any area of life—spiritually, emotionally, physically, or financially—God responds with such an abundance that it overflows into every area of life.

Every area of your life!

The Key is the Gospel

Every time we give toward the work of the Gospel, we minister to the Lord and to others:

For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. (2 Corinthians 9:12-14)

Giving is not just about giving. Giving is about ministry. It’s all about the Gospel. Every time we give, it reveals the heart of the Gospel and of Jesus Christ Himself!

Is it any wonder why Paul closes this passage of Scripture by writing, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)?

When a person gives toward the spread of the Gospel, something indescribable and unspeakable happens in the giver’s life. God wants to do indescribable and unspeakable things in your life! He will show His power in your life every time you give.

When you plant your seed into the fertile soil of this worldwide ministry, you are sowing the Gospel into millions and millions of lives who are in desperate need of salvation. They need deliverance. They need to be freed from the bondage of sin and evil.

God is looking for givers to bless abundantly. In fact, even back in the Old Testament, He told us that He gives wealth to establish His covenant:

Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:18)

He wants to bless you to be a blessing! He desires to do mighty things through you. He wants to do indescribable and unspeakable things in your life! And He is able!

The Word of God assures us that “the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just” (Proverbs 13:22), and “in the house of the righteous is much treasure” (Proverbs 15:6). We can also find joy in this promise: “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten” (Joel 2:25). He is ready and willing!

As a Covenant Person, You are a Giver

These seven promises found in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 are desperately needed today, since God desires to do mighty things through covenant believers as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission. There is so much to be done as we reach out to the 7.8 billion souls around the globe. And we know that when it comes to financial blessings and no lack, giving has always been the act of faith that triggers the harvest and blessings in every area of your life.

You are a vital part of all Almighty God wants to do, for only covenant people give! Those who do not give are not in covenant. It is because of the covenant that you become a giver.

Sow your seed-gift, releasing it as an act of faith, knowing that the size of your gift determines the size of your harvest.

Do it now!

Your greatest days are ahead. Your future is healthier than your past, brighter than your past, more prosperous than your past! God wants to help you survive the chaotic waters around you and will pour out a supernatural anointing for prosperity!

Assure future victories and divine protection by planting seed today.

There is a divine connection between your need and your seed. Planting financial seed now toward the Gospel prepares you to receive tomorrow’s victory, protection, and blessing in every area of your life.

And you don’t always know which seed you plant will prosper the most:

Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days. Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth… In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good. (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6)

The secret to this divine connection is liberality in giving. The more often you plant seed, the more you increase your opportunity for a bountiful harvest; the higher your seed level, the greater the return. I’ve always compared it to an airplane that increases in speed and altitude as the power is poured on. And that power is in your seed.

This is not me saying this. I’m just telling you what the Bible says. You have the legal right to stand on God promises, such as those found in Psalm 112:1-3, John 10:10, and others.

So today, sow your seed in faith purposefully and believe the Lord will take care of you.

With great expectation of bountiful blessings in every area of your life,