Riches

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.

Wow!! God wants you to be RICH!!! Unfortunately the human concept of riches and God’s are TOTALLY different and in many ways TOTALLY incompatible. There are many false prophets in the world who would teach people that God’s riches are the riches of the world but nothing could be further than the truth. This morning I would like to preach about the riches God has and wishes to impart to man.

Look in Ephesians chapter 3 beginning in verse one and reading to verse 12.

Eph.3:[8] Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Directing your attention to verse eight, the Apostle states his mission is to preach the riches of Christ to us Gentiles. These riches are unsearchable. You may strive all of your life to obtain the riches of God but without Christ it is impossible to attain. When the human mind thinks of riches the first thing it thinks of is physical wealth. But God is a Spirit and the things of God are spiritual. Let us look at Ephesians chapter one beginning in verse one and reading to verse seven.

 

God is rich in grace.

Eph.1:[7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

God is rich in GRACE! We must understand God has extended forgiveness for your sins through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and apart from His blood there is no access to this grace. Not by any works are penance can you obtain God’s grace. Only through the shed blood of Jesus. God wants to bestow His riches of grace to you. Grace is the receiving of something undeserved.

Look in Ephesians 2 verses one through 10. Let me call your attention to verse 4.

 

God is rich in mercy

Eph.2:[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

God is rich in mercy.

God is rich in grace and He is rich in mercy! Grace is the receiving of something undeserved and mercy is NOT receiving something deserved. We as sinners deserve nothing from God but His wrath but God being rich in mercy has provided a way in which to not get what you deserve. He loves us and through this love He has given us the riches of His mercy through Christ.

Look in Colossians chapter one verses 25-29.

God is rich in glory.

Col.1:[27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Verse 27 tells us God is rich in glory and through His mercy and grace we receive the new birth. The Holy Spirit comes in the moment we accept Christ as our Savior and creates within us a new creature. It is at this moment we begin to walk with God and have obtained a hope in eternity which we never had before. It is through this new birth we begin to grow in the Lord.

Look in Colossians chapter 2 verses 1 through 3.

God is rich in understanding

Col.2:[2] That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

God is rich in understanding. When you accept Christ as Savior and the new birth occurs. You are not born with complete knowledge but are born a babe in Christ. It is through the process of spiritual growth we begin to develop an understanding in the things of God. But not to worry God is rich in understanding.

Look in Colossians 3 verses 12 through 17.

God is rich in wisdom.

Col.3:[16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

God not only wants to give us His riches in understanding but also His riches of wisdom. We obtain this through hearing and learning from His word. When we hear it and learn it then allow the Holy Spirit to APPLY it! By the application of His word we begin to show on the outside we belong to Him.

Look at Romans chapter 10 reading verses 8 through 13.

Rom.10:[12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

God does not discriminate. God will grant you His riches of grace, mercy, glory, understanding and wisdom and give to you hope in an uncertain world and in uncertain times by trusting in Jesus Christ the Lord as your personal Savior. Confess to God you are a sinner and ask for forgiveness based on the work of Jesus. Receive Him into your heart, believing God has raised Jesus from the dead so that you may have eternal life.