Series on Philippians #19

Philippians 4:14-19

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Let’s pray…
Alright, we’re coming to an end of our time in Philippians, we got out of it last week to address what the resurrection means, how it changes our lives. But now we’re back in Philippians. Let’s go. We’ll dig in and see what Paul had to say to them, back then, and then we’ll tie it in to our lives now.

First let me say, this is a message about giving. If you are new here, we don’t talk about giving often. But when the text talks about something, we don’t shy away from it.

And when we look at this text, we see a lot of depth, we could probably dissect this passage for a few weeks, but here’s what I want to show you:
A. Giving is essential for furthering the Gospel. (v. 15-16)
B. Giving is a blessing for the giver and the receiver. (v. 17-18a) And,
C. There are rewards from God for giving to the Kingdom work. (18b-19)

But before we get to all that we have to read this in its context, Andy covered this wonderfully two weeks ago; let’s review quickly to tie v. 10-14 into tonight’s message.

10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

A couple of things to unpack, starting in 10. Paul rejoices in the fact that the Philippians have renewed their concern. Listen, as many of you know from first hand experience, when you are going out of your comfort zone and pouring out your blood, sweat and tears in a task, whether it’s ministry work or mountain climbing or boot camp, or college, or parenting, or taking care of aging parents or whatever — it becomes vital for your sanity and your encouragement to hear from other people who have your back, to hear from people who have been through the fire, people who understand what it is like in the middle of the struggle.

Now all through this letter, Paul is talking about the partnership in the gospel that he shares with the Philippians.

This is bigger than boot camp, this is bigger than a man made war over land or politics, this is the eternal battle to shine light in the darkness, this is the battle to bring the good news to every nation. And it is hard. You think being a Christian is easy? If so, you’re not reading the same bible as me. If so, you haven’t read anything Jesus had to say about following Him.

It’s hard. Jesus says you and I have to lay down our lives, our rights, our desire to be made much of, we need to die to ourselves daily and follow Him — on mission for Him, to be more like Him in EVERYTHING we do.

Jesus told His disciples, keep watch, look how they treat me. I’ve come to save God’s people, to reconcile the Father’s sheep into the fold, and it’s gonna cost me my life!

Then He tells them, what they do to me, they’ll do to you. Some people will hear this Gospel this Good News and say, Yes! Finally! There is a way!

But others will run away from the light, and others will go on the offensive against the light.
So with all of that heavy truth on his heart, Paul says to the Philippians, Oh! How great it is to hear that I’m no alone. Oh! How grateful I am for your support.

Now we can see that the support had lagged for a while. He writes that the Philippians RENEWED their support for him — in other words, there had been support, then it evaporated, and then it returned.

And in v. 11 and12, Paul writes that he HAS LEARNED the secret of contentment. How do you learn to be content when you have plenty and when you have want or need? You learn by going through those seasons.

When the Philippians support dried up, Paul was left stranded. He says in tonight’s passage in v. 15, that no other church helped him. And in that season of want, Paul learned to be content in his relationship with God.

I’ve never met anyone who says that is an easy thing to learn. If someone tells you it is easy to learn it, they may only be talking about an IDEA of contentment in want.

So Paul says I learned that hard lesson and I know that no matter what, God will not leave me or forsake me, but I thank God that you came along to help me — and to share in this battle again.

So that’s review to give us some context, now lets move on:
Remember I want to show, through the scriptures, how:
A. Giving is essential for furthering the Gospel. (v. 15-16)
B. Giving is a blessing for the giver and the receiver. (v. 17-18a) And,
C. There are rewards from God for giving to the Kingdom work. (18b-19)

So first, Giving is essential for furthering the Gospel. (v. 15-16)

15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.

Jesus, before He went back to Heaven gave this command:

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

This is the Great Commission and with it comes a great cost. It costs time, talent, treasure, reputation, sleep, worldly desires and more.

Simply put, this commission will not be completed unless we give and give sacrificially. That means we must restructure the way we spend money, restructure our schedules, evaluate and shift our priorities — all — All, All, ALL — with Christ first. All centered on loving God; and loving God, not only in our thoughts, not only in our prayers, but also in the tangible realm, in the world.

Listen, I can tell myself that I am Christ centered, but what does it matter if it ends with words and good thoughts and good intentions that don’t change the way I live my life?

What does my checkbook ledger say about my devotion to Christ and my concern and partnership in the great commission? What do my day planner, or calendar say? How about yours?

What are you doing to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to comfort the lonely, to provide for the needy?

And I’m talking about impacting PEOPLE with the GOSPEL here. If you are cleaning up the rivers and recycling, if you are pouring time and treasure into the animal shelter, if you are volunteering time for a worthwhile political party, that’s all awesome. But DON”T LET IT ECLIPSE YOUR GOSPEL MISSION. At the end of this world, when you are standing in front of God, He’s not going to ask how many petitions you got signed, or how many old tires you picked up or how many dogs and cats you found homes for.

No! The question will be, what did you do with the talents, the time, and the money the influence that I gave you to save souls by introducing them to the Gospel? Who’s here because YOU shared the Gospel? Who’s in Heaven because YOU supported mission work at home and abroad?

Listen you want to do all that other stuff and give to all those causes, then by all means do it! We need Christians in those areas. But in those areas of ministry, make the Gospel central. FIRST and foremost, push the Kingdom out in your little slice of the world.

Give money to charities, but give more to missions. Volunteer time to good causes, but spend MORE TIME going out into all the world to make disciples and support those who do.

I believe that some of you will be called to be a Paul, who goes out, and some will be called to stay in Philippi and work with excellence so you can earn money to send out to the Paul’s of the world, who are in the inner cities, and in the third world countries.

And whichever way you are called, ANSWER THE CALL!

And why? That brings us to the next point:
Giving is a blessing for the giver and the receiver. (v. 17-18a) Paul says:

17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.

I could go a million ways here, but let’s look at giving your time and financially supporting the Kingdom mission.
On the last point I worked from the assumption that IF you weren’t pushing the Gospel out, then it might be because you were distracted from so many other kinds of benevolence you were involved in.

Let’s be honest though, that’s not the only reason we don’t give to the mission work?
So many times we don’t give to the church, to missionaries in the field, or to para-church organizations in the community because we have sought after our own comforts or after the newest, biggest, and better trinket or whatever and when all is said and done, there’s no money left to be generous with.

That’s one key reason that I believe that the tithe, the giving to the church is supposed to be the first fruits of what we bring in — the first portion of our income. If we wait to see what we have left, it’s gone and the church’s effectiveness is impeded.

And when we honestly evaluate our time, we see that we spend much more time on the things that make us feel good or benefit us, rather than things that assist others and lift them up out of their struggles.

And it’s interesting how Paul phrases it, again he emphasizes that one way or another, he trusts God with his provision, but says it is for the good of the giver that he celebrates their giving.

He says this is being credited to our account when we give to the Gospel work. How’s that show its self? I think it shows itself through the contrast of what we give to.

If I work and work in order to get a flat screen television or a faster computer or a nicer car, or a better camera, or some nice jewelry, or a dinner at a nice restaurant, or a new pair of pants, or a slicker cell phone, or… How long will any of that satisfy and fulfill me?

Within days, weeks or — at best — months, advertisers will convince me that my new stuff is less desirable and that I’ll only be happy again once I shell out some cash for the new whatever.

But, when I send money to my friend’s Christian based homeless shelter in Lexington and reports come back about people being feed food and the gospel and reports come back about changed lives, about people who, like me and like you used to be enemies with God, but are now counted among His children, that brings a satisfaction that doesn’t fade. Satisfaction that doesn’t become obsolete.

That’s a person I get to share eternity with! And in some way, which we may never fully grasp, that is being stored up on our account, it ties back to what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. He told the crowd, don’t store up your treasure HERE where it fades away, store it up in heaven where it lasts forever.

How many times have we heard this? How many times have we shaken our heads and agreed, “Yes, you’re right. Those things always disappoint me are leave me wanting more.”

But then when we see that next trinket, or the next billboard, we discard what we know is important and open our wallet to waste our money again.

I pray that the Holy Spirit would change our hearts when it comes to our money, but we also need to take some practical steps and build discipline.

Remember, Paul learned to be content. As God’s people, do we need to learn by having things ripped from our grasp, or do we want to learn by disciplining ourselves to be more generous and less wasteful in our spending?

Let’s move on to the last point, it’s tied closely to the second point.
There are rewards from God for giving to the Kingdom work. (18b-19) Paul writes:

18b They (the gifts and giving toward the mission) are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice (don’t miss that word SACRIFICE), pleasing to God (To God and not to Man, Again back to the Sermon on the Mount: When You Give, don’t do it like the hypocrites, who want to be honored by men. Do it in secret, so your Father in Heaven will see it and…) 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Now let me be careful here, this isn’t saying give to the church and give to the missionaries and give to the Christian charities and then God will give you a Cadillac or great health, or whatever else you WISH for. That’s not what it says.

You give to what’s important to God, and He will provide for all of your NEEDS.

We’re running out of time, but let me list very quickly, some of those needs.
God provides: Continuing grace and forgiveness by faith in Christ.
God provides: The indwelling of the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide you and to give you the POWER to resist the temptations that would pull you back into sin.
God provides: Food, clothing, shelter.
God provides: Moments of laughter, when you feel like you would otherwise crack under the pressure of your life and your circumstances.
God provides: Rest for your body, mind and spirit in the Sabbath.
God provides: Moments of struggle, which the Bible says help us to refocus our dependence and connection toward God thorough prayer and meditation and the reading of the Word.
God provides: Correction from the prompting of the Spirit and by our brothers and sisters in the Church.
God provides: The removal of the curse of death and Hell as payment for our sins. Again, this lifting of the just punishment is not because of the good we have done or the good we are doing, or the good that we might do in the future, it is because of the goodness, the righteousness of Jesus that has been given to us.

Those are just a few of the NEEDS that God provides for.

Now, that’s the end of the message, As Ryan gets ready to lead us in one more song, I want to encourage you all to pray to God and ask how you might be able to help serve in the Kingdom mission in a new area in Madison.

The Ruth Haven transitional home will be opening soon as a step between prison and the life outside the prison walls. A place that helps women find a new start, which is what Jesus Christ bought for everyone of us.

Now, as they get closer to their opening date and beyond they are going to need workers to help with the building, they are going to need financial assistance and more.

This is a great opportunity to put your faith that you talk about and think about and pray about into action.

Now let’s close with prayer and then a song to God…