1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,520 Is preaching to a bunch of sleepy Baptists is never easy 2 00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:07,240 after a meal like this. So I know how it goes. 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,960 But we're going to turn in our Bibles tonight to Philippians 4 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:15,080 chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4. 5 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,760 As we look at the theme tonight, the joy of missions giving. 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,600 The joy of missions giving, you say, how can the word joy and 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:28,440 the Word give go together? Because sometimes we hear the 8 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,280 word give and it makes us feel anything but joyful. 9 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:37,080 But actually, if you understand the Bible and God's heart for 10 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,680 giving, it's possible to give with joy. 11 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:41,760 In fact, that's the kind of giving God wants. 12 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:43,840 And God doesn't need our money, does he? 13 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:48,320 In fact, he's more concerned about having our hearts and but 14 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:52,520 if he has our hearts, then we'll be willing to be used of God as 15 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,160 a channel. And that's really what it comes 16 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,720 down to. We want to allow God to use us 17 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,320 as a channel for giving. When I was a little boy, my 18 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:04,560 mother taught me Simeon, you can never out give the Lord. 19 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:08,520 And that's certainly true. You can never out give the Lord 20 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,000 and we don't give to get. But I have seen in my life 21 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,080 today, if I'm faithful to give as the Lord leads, the Lord 22 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:18,120 supplies the needs and the Lord blesses that and God is mighty, 23 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,040 God is able. And and so we look tonight at 24 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,920 the joy of mission's giving. When you think about our God, is 25 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:28,120 not our God a giving God? For God so loved the world that 26 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,840 he gave. So giving is right at the heart 27 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,520 of it all, isn't it? God gave his Son the greatest 28 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,040 gift of all. And so it shouldn't be too much 29 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:42,440 for us to give back a little bit of what he's entrusted to us for 30 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,480 the support of his work. And so Philippians 4, verse 10. 31 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:52,080 And we're going to read to verse 20. 32 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:54,880 And why don't you read? Why don't we read this 33 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:57,360 responsibly to keep you awake? I'll read verse 10. 34 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,400 You read verse 11. We'll go back and forth like 35 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,720 that until we get to verse 20. The Bible reads. 36 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:05,000 But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now the last your 37 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,039 care of me hath flourished again, wherein you were also 38 00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:09,919 careful, but you lacked opportunity. 39 00:02:13,640 --> 00:02:19,160 Whatsoever state I am their way to be content. 40 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,320 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound 41 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:26,920 everywhere and in all things. I'm instructed both to be full 42 00:02:26,920 --> 00:02:30,160 and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 43 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:34,920 I do all things through Christ that strengthened me. 44 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:37,440 Notwithstanding you have well done that you did communicate 45 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:54,880 with my affliction. For even in Thessalonica ye sent 46 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:56,840 once and again unto my necessity. 47 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,920 But I have all and abound. I am full, having received of 48 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:10,440 Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a 49 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:14,320 sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to 50 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:23,720 God. Now unto God and our Father be 51 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,640 glory forever and ever, Amen. Let's pray. 52 00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:28,960 Father, we thank you for the opportunity to assemble here 53 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:30,720 again tonight. We thank you for this church, 54 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:33,400 what it stands for. Thank you, Lord, that there is a 55 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:37,120 heart for missions here. We thank you for the good meal 56 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,400 tonight and all the sacrifice there, the hands that prepared 57 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:41,920 it. We pray now that you would 58 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:45,680 strengthen us in the inner man and enable us to receive from 59 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,320 your word and we'll look to you now. 60 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,680 We look to you now for your blessing in Jesus name, Amen. 61 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:55,360 You know, Paul was really a living testimony of the theme of 62 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,240 the epistle. The theme of Philippians is joy. 63 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,640 And we see in the apostle Paul's life that his joy was not 64 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:07,040 dictated by his circumstances. This was one of the, this is one 65 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,280 of the prison epistles. And even though Paul was in 66 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,040 prison, he still knew how to rejoice in God. 67 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:21,480 And he he rejoiced there in God's provision for his needs 68 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:26,520 through the church at Philippi. And so the Philippian Church had 69 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:32,280 been a blessing in supporting the Apostle Paul in his mission 70 00:04:32,280 --> 00:04:38,040 work and had contributed very generously there to to the 71 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:41,400 supporting the Apostle Paul. Now interestingly, at the time 72 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:45,400 when Paul wrote Philippians, the Philippian Church was 73 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:50,040 approximately 10 years old. So I understand it's your 10 74 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:54,680 year anniversary this year. And that's really what we see 75 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:58,280 here is quite a testimony concerning a young church. 76 00:04:58,280 --> 00:05:00,680 And it's hard to give you. So we're just a small church. 77 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,160 We're just a young church. We haven't been around for many 78 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:04,880 years. Well, you can still be used of 79 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,040 God to be a blessing in this area of missions giving. 80 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:12,320 And here Paul writes to commend and to encourage a church that 81 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:17,120 was around 10 years old that had been a source of blessing and a 82 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:21,640 source of help to him as he went about in missionary endeavour. 83 00:05:22,280 --> 00:05:26,000 So I want to just give you 3 points tonight and I'm trimming 84 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,680 this message back just to give you a quick overview of the of 85 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:30,840 the text. And normally it would take about 86 00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:33,120 an hour to get through this, but I'll just hit the highlights so 87 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,640 that you can go home and get some rest before tomorrow. 88 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:39,080 But look in verse 10 through 14 at what I would call the renewal 89 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,080 of their support, the renewal of their support. 90 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:44,920 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at the last, 91 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,800 your care of me hath flourished again. 92 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:52,920 And so they had supported Paul in the past, but now they had 93 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,480 sent further support through Epaphroditus. 94 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,080 And Paul describes this as a flourishing. 95 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:05,760 He uses a a agricultural term there like a like the sprouting 96 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:10,920 of a of a plant in spring. And so we see the apostles 97 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:14,400 commendation in verse 10. His commendation there was joy 98 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:19,120 and rejoicing in the apostles heart because of the giving of 99 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,320 God's people. And you know, sending financial 100 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:26,920 aid to those in in in in in the work of the Lord can is one way 101 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:30,760 we can really encourage them in the frontline of the of the 102 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:32,640 battle. Paul's in a, in a difficult 103 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:36,000 situation and their renewed support brought encouragement to 104 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,240 him. And so there's the commendation 105 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:41,480 there. He rejoiced over their giving 106 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:44,400 that had flourished again. They had been a source of 107 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,760 blessing to him. And that's how we that's one way 108 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,200 we can be a blessing to servants of God. 109 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,560 We need to pray for them, of course, but we can encourage 110 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,600 them and and strengthen them and help them with that practical 111 00:06:55,600 --> 00:07:00,520 means of financial support. Then we look at the apostles 112 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:02,760 contentment. The apostles contentment in 113 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,440 verse 11 to 13 and in the process of thanking the 114 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,840 Philippian Church, the apostle Paul shares how the Lord had 115 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,280 taught him contentment. One thing the apostle Paul is 116 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,920 very clear about in this passage is that he wasn't really after 117 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:21,800 their money in a carnal sense. God had taught him to trust and 118 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:26,480 dependence upon God in All in all situations, and yet at the 119 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,320 same time he's thanking them and commending them for their heart 120 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,840 to support him. So he says there in verse 11, 121 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:36,440 not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned in 122 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,680 whatsoever state I am therewith to be. 123 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,640 What's that word content? I know both how to be abased and 124 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,240 I know how to abound everywhere and in all things. 125 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,560 I'm instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound 126 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,080 and to suffer need. I can do all things through 127 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:56,360 Christ which strengtheneth me. And so Paul knew what it was to 128 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:01,840 be content in his life in times of abundance, in times of 129 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:05,880 adversity. And you notice there the keyword 130 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:10,360 learned for I have learned in what sort of a state I am there. 131 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:12,440 We have to be contented. You know, the contentment does 132 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,280 not come naturally. It's something that we have to 133 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,720 learn. OK, Our our, our sin nature is 134 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:23,080 such that we always want more. We Live Today in societies that 135 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:25,240 very much promote discontentment. 136 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,040 And they want you to be discontented. 137 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:28,560 So then you'll buy more of their products. 138 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:32,280 They want to try and create a sense of, of want and a sense 139 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,000 of, of desiring you all the time. 140 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,440 And so this is something that we have to learn. 141 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:40,039 Paul had to learn what it was to be content. 142 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,360 And contentment is a is a very important thing in the Christian 143 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:47,280 life, especially in a materialistic age. 144 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,000 We are living in a, in, in the age of materialism. 145 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,160 And if we're not careful, we can get caught up in that and get 146 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:55,920 caught up in the world's priorities. 147 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:59,800 And the Bible actually warns that if you make riches your 148 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,120 goal in life, you expose yourself to very It's a 149 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:06,840 spiritual dangers, one Timothy 6/6 through 10 says. 150 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,880 But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought 151 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,600 nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing 152 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:14,600 out. And having food and raiment, let 153 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,840 us be there with content. But they that will be rich. 154 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:21,440 The Word has the idea of to desire fall into temptation and 155 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,920 a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown 156 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:26,800 men in destruction and perdition. 157 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,600 For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while 158 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,640 some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced 159 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:34,520 them themselves through with many sorrows. 160 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:39,880 So be very careful about about making riches your goal in life. 161 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:43,680 As it's been well said, it's not wrong to have money, but there's 162 00:09:43,680 --> 00:09:45,280 something wrong with money has you. 163 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:50,880 OK, It's not wrong to have money as long as money doesn't have 164 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,960 you. And for many people today, money 165 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:58,800 has them. But as a believer, you can just 166 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:00,480 be content. It's wonderful to be content 167 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:04,120 with a simple life, content with what the Lord provides because 168 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,520 we have much greater blessings that the world knows nothing 169 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:08,560 about. Eternal life, forgiveness of 170 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:10,880 sins, a home in heaven, mansion, glory. 171 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:14,920 And we see this world through the lens of Scripture, knowing 172 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,400 that whatever we own in this life we won't be taking with 173 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:21,160 this. So therefore let's use our 174 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,880 resources for something that will count for eternity. 175 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:30,960 Now you say, well, how was Paul able to be content? 176 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:34,200 Look at verse 13. What does it say? 177 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:37,920 I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. 178 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,520 You know, this is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible, 179 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,120 but people forget it's in the context of contentment. 180 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:46,960 In fact, people like to claim that verse today is like a 181 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,520 prosperity verse, but actually look at the context. 182 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,320 It's about being content even in times of want. 183 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:56,440 In fact, as we're going to see, there's really 2 verses in this 184 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,160 chapter that are frequently quoted by Christians. 185 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:01,080 Verse 13, I can do all things through Christ, which 186 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,680 strengtheneth me. And verse 19 But my God shall 187 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:06,640 supply all you'll need according to his riches in glory by Christ 188 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:08,480 Jesus. But they forget that both those 189 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:12,560 wonderful promises were written to a giving church, a church 190 00:11:12,560 --> 00:11:15,320 that had a heart to give two missions. 191 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,120 And so I'm not saying it's wrong to claim those verses as a 192 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,400 believer, but I'm just saying those verses in context are 193 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,880 spoken to a giving church, a mission minded church. 194 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:29,280 And a church that takes giving to mission seriously can really 195 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:33,160 claim those promises and trust for God's strengthening and for 196 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:37,680 God's supply. So that's the first point there. 197 00:11:37,680 --> 00:11:42,160 We see he commends them for the renewal of their support. 198 00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:45,320 And then look at #2 what I call the remembrance of their 199 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,480 support, the remembrance of their support. 200 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:53,280 And Paul recounts how the Philippian Church had been 201 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,480 faithful to him. Their support of him was not 202 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,280 new. They had done this for him in 203 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:01,480 the past. Now you Philippians know also 204 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:03,680 that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from 205 00:12:03,680 --> 00:12:06,560 Macedonia, no church communicated with me as 206 00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:09,800 concerning giving and receiving, but ye only, for even in 207 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:13,120 Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 208 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:21,360 So you see here that the the Apostle Paul had been the 209 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:26,840 recipient of faithful giving from this church in the past and 210 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,960 10 years on, they still had a heart to support the Apostle 211 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:34,120 Paul and had sent fresh relief through Epaphroditus. 212 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:36,520 So we could say their support was rare. 213 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:40,720 Their support was rare. Verse 15, he Paul mentions the 214 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,760 fact that no other church had communicated with him as 215 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,360 concerning giving and receiving. But ye only only the Philippian 216 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,880 church and it tells you something there. 217 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:54,880 The the support that he received was something that was rare. 218 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,320 Not many churches supported the apostle Paul. 219 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,480 Now there were others. Of course, he robbed, he talked 220 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,120 about taking support from other churches, but it's interesting 221 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:06,080 that in his work of the gospel there, as he left the Macedonian 222 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,800 area, they were the only church that were faithful in giving to 223 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:11,800 him. And when Paul talks about the 224 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,400 beginning of the gospel there, he's referring back to his early 225 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,880 mission work in Macedonia about 10 years previously. 226 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,320 So that word beginning means commencement or origin. 227 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:24,120 So Paul departed from Macedonia, went into OK to the cities of 228 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,200 Athens and Corinth. Corinth, sorry. 229 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,960 And Paul would later remind the Corinthian church that he 230 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,160 administered among them, supported by other churches, 231 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,360 Second Corinthians 11/8 through 9. 232 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:41,200 And so this church had been faithful in supporting the 233 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,880 apostle Paul, and it really speaks volumes for a church that 234 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,640 was just newly planted, a young church. 235 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,800 So how can God use us? We're not as big as other 236 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:51,600 churches. God can use you. 237 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,880 God can use this church, which is a similar age to the 238 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:56,840 Philippian church at the time Paul was writing. 239 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:00,240 That's a great encouragement. A little as much when God is in 240 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:01,800 it. In fact, I think about our 241 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:06,040 service for the Lord, I think about our giving and compared to 242 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:08,920 the need, it's just so small. And I think about that little 243 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:12,440 boy with his five loaves and two fishes and you look at that. 244 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:17,240 It's just, it was just so small compared to the huge need, but 245 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:21,240 placed in the Masters hands, the Lord could multiply it and 246 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:22,960 minister it to many. And that's what we need. 247 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:24,840 We just bring the little that we have. 248 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,280 And yeah, compared to humanly speaking, compared to the huge 249 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:30,800 need out there, it doesn't look like much, but you put it in the 250 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,080 Lord's hands and he can do much with it, with his power. 251 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:36,520 And so that's what we, that's what we need to do, just be 252 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:40,400 faithful and continue on. And so this was a wonderful, 253 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,200 this is a wonderful example in the church, a church that 254 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,280 really, it seems from its early days had a heart to support the 255 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:50,000 Apostle Paul and continued on in faithfulness in supporting the 256 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:53,080 Apostle Paul. So their support was rare. 257 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,200 Verse 15, we could say their support was repeated. 258 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:59,680 Verse 16. For even in Thessalonica he sent 259 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:02,520 once and again unto my necessity. 260 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,080 So even when he was still in the Macedonia region there 261 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:10,400 ministering in Thessalonica, they had supported him once and 262 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:12,120 again. So at least twice there they had 263 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:16,120 sent financial aid to the Apostle Paul. 264 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:21,120 Do you have a heart to support the work of missions, then? 265 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,760 A Ravenhill said today Christians spend more money on 266 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:28,600 dog food than missions. That's convicting, isn't it? 267 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,600 Today Christians tend to spend more money on dog food than 268 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:33,720 missions. It's amazing, isn't it, what 269 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,640 people spend on their pampered pooch? 270 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:39,600 I mean, aisles, I don't know what it's like here, but at 271 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:44,160 home, aisles of literally aisles in the grocery store there of 272 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:47,080 stuff for the dog. And I'm not against, I'm not 273 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:48,480 saying you should be mean to your pet. 274 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,280 You should look after your pet. But there is something wrong 275 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:52,840 when we can spend more on our pet than the work of the gospel. 276 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,520 Can't afford to give to missions past it or how much did you 277 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:01,000 spend on coffee last week? Can't afford to give to missions 278 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:02,480 past it. How much did you spend on your 279 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,200 favorite luxury? Can't afford to give to missions 280 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:06,840 past it? How much did you spend on your 281 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,120 rifles and ammunition and your hobbies? 282 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,360 Now again, it's not a sin to have some of those things. 283 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:14,480 I'm just saying it's good to stop and think, isn't it? 284 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,040 Where's the priority in our finances? 285 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,040 Is it eternal things or selfish things? 286 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:26,440 Third Point #3 look at the reward of their support. 287 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:28,320 And here's some real encouragement here. 288 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:32,080 Verse 17 through 19. Not because I desire a gift, but 289 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:35,120 I desire fruit. That may abound to your account, 290 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:39,280 but I have all and abound. I'm full, having received of 291 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,480 Epaphroditus the things which are sent from you, an odor of a 292 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:46,400 sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to 293 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:50,720 God, but my God shall supply all your need according to his 294 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:55,120 riches in glory by Christ Jesus. There were three blessings that 295 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,000 the Philippian Church could expect as a result of their 296 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,360 faithful giving, and we can apply them to ourselves as well. 297 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:06,040 The principle applies, blessing #1 the abounding of fruit. 298 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:08,680 The abounding of fruit. Verse 17. 299 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:12,680 Not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound 300 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,119 to your account. Isn't that an amazing statement 301 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:21,599 that God would credit to the Philippian church's account, 302 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:24,839 really the results of Paul's ministry? 303 00:17:24,839 --> 00:17:27,200 Paul would get a reward, no doubt before the Lord, but 304 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,000 that's the way God sees it. And that's that really lifts 305 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:35,080 missions giving to a high level. You give to faith, promise, and 306 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,440 then that money goes to supporting missionaries all 307 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:41,120 across the globe, different parts of the harvest field as we 308 00:17:41,120 --> 00:17:43,400 support them and they win souls for Christ. 309 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:46,600 There's a reward for us in that. That's how God sees it. 310 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,480 That should motivate you to give to missions because we want 311 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,280 fruit. Paul said I desire that, not 312 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,000 because I desire a gift. Paul wasn't. 313 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,840 Again, we can see Paul wasn't really in this for himself. 314 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:59,600 He wasn't like the prosperity teachers trying to just bleed 315 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:01,760 people of money for his own selfish gains. 316 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:05,360 No, Paul was a spiritual man. His heart was there for souls, 317 00:18:05,360 --> 00:18:08,200 and his heart was to see the Philippian church rewarded by 318 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,280 God at the judgment seat of Christ for faithful giving. 319 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:17,400 So he he desired fruit that would abound to their account. 320 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,080 I think that's amazing that the giving of temporal things in 321 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:24,080 this life can result in eternal fruit. 322 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:28,120 And God views our giving to missions as a part of the 323 00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:30,120 process in bringing souls to himself. 324 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:34,360 That's how God sees it. So that should encourage you to 325 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:37,400 be faithful in the giving of missions because it means fruit 326 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:39,560 that will abound to your account. 327 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,520 I'm amazed actually, I'm amazed that God would, would, would 328 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,600 love us enough to save us. And then I'm really amazed that 329 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,600 he would be willing to go beyond that and reward us for our 330 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:53,160 pathetic attempts to serve him. But that's the heart of God 331 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,320 heart to reward us and to bless us. 332 00:18:56,320 --> 00:19:00,720 And so give, give to missions. Be a part of that great work of 333 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:03,960 supporting the work of the gospel because as souls are 334 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,000 saved in the harvest fields of the world, that's fruit that 335 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:08,880 abounds to your account. That's how God sees it. 336 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,480 We're all a team in this. It's all there are many links in 337 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:16,360 a chain, aren't there to bring us all across and and we can 338 00:19:16,360 --> 00:19:19,720 just be a part of that great team effort of seeing people 339 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,720 come to the Lord. Second, blessing the approval of 340 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,120 God. So the abounding of fruit #2 the 341 00:19:25,120 --> 00:19:28,160 approval of God. Look at God's perspective on 342 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:30,160 giving. But I have all and abound. 343 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,360 I am full having received of Epaphroditus the things which 344 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:35,920 are sent from you. And look at how Paul describes 345 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:41,880 their gift, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, 346 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,280 well pleasing to God. What's he describing there? 347 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:49,800 He's describing their missions offering to him and he said it 348 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:54,400 was an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well 349 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:56,560 pleasing to God. And Paul is drawing here on the 350 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,600 imagery of the Old Testament, and in particular the sweet 351 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:03,640 savour offerings to describe the gift from this church. 352 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,520 And so in the church age, we don't OfferUp animal sacrifices, 353 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:11,080 but we offer up the sacrifice of Christian service and we offer 354 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:14,840 up the sacrifice of giving. And it's a sweet smell to God. 355 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:18,440 It brings joy to the missionary, but more importantly, it brings 356 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,400 joy to the heart of our God. It's a sacrifice acceptable and 357 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:25,800 well pleasing to God. So this lifts missions giving to 358 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:28,760 a high level, doesn't it? We can expect the abounding of 359 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:31,040 fruit, fruit that abounds to our account. 360 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,080 We can expect the approval of God. 361 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:34,760 This is something that pleases God. 362 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:36,880 After all, God himself is a giving God. 363 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,320 It's a part of his nature and his character. 364 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,960 He loves a cheerful giver. Then we can expect the the third 365 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,960 blessing, the assistance of God, the assistance of God. 366 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,840 Verse 19 but my God shall supply all your need according to his 367 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:55,320 riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Again, I emphasize this 368 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:59,640 wonderful promise was written to a church that was sacrificing in 369 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:04,760 giving to missions. And so you say, well, pastor, I 370 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,200 just don't know how it's going to work out financially for me 371 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:11,240 to give to the missions, the faith promise missions there of 372 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:12,600 the giving program of the church. 373 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:13,680 I just don't know how it's going to work. 374 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:15,280 Well, you can claim verse 19 here. 375 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:20,880 If you will give as the law directs you, you can claim verse 376 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:25,440 19 because this promise was given to a mission, missions 377 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:31,040 minded missions giving church. The word supply there means to 378 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,480 fulfill, to fulfill. In fact, it comes from the same 379 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:39,400 root word translated I am full in the previous verse. 380 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,480 So they filled Paul's every need to overflowing and God would do 381 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:47,320 the same for them. Note the connection here between 382 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:49,960 full and supply. The apostle was full on account 383 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:53,120 of the gift sent to him. Now God would fill what they 384 00:21:53,120 --> 00:21:56,080 lacked. And that's true, isn't it? 385 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,960 When you, when you give of your own resources, that leaves a 386 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:03,520 lack on your part. Now, well the Lord has promised 387 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:06,480 to fill that and to provide your need. 388 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,360 Now notice it doesn't say God will provide all of our wants. 389 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,800 OK, sometimes what we have on our list are a whole lot of 390 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:17,400 wants. Now God will supply our need and 391 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:19,400 He does that. So this is a verse that you can 392 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,920 claim as a church because this verse applies to individuals 393 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:25,640 within the church giving commissions, but it also applies 394 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:28,760 to the church because, you know, even as a pastor, Psalm, as you 395 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:30,160 look, you think, wow, we're giving all this money 396 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:31,480 commissions. Imagine what we could do with 397 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:36,400 that here. But this is God's way the church 398 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:38,960 takes that step of faith. Individuals in the church take a 399 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:41,760 step of faith and the church as a whole takes that step of faith 400 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,120 to send those resources to the work of missions. 401 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,080 And this verse can therefore be claimed by the church also 402 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:48,680 because he's writing to the Church of Philippi. 403 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:53,520 So it's a wonderful, wonderful verse there of promise that can 404 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:57,080 be laid hold of the individuals and for faithful churches that 405 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:01,600 are giving to the work of missions. 406 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,480 Now remember, the Philippian church was not a wealthy church 407 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,520 like Latus. Here they go by faith even in 408 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,160 their poverty. This is described in 2nd 409 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,640 Corinthians 8 one through 4. Remember, the Philippian Church 410 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:15,160 was one of the Philippian Church was one of the Macedonian 411 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,920 churches. Moreover, brethren, we do to wit 412 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:21,760 of the grace of God bestowed on the Church of Macedonia how they 413 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:24,240 in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and 414 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:26,440 their deep poverty abounded under the riches of their 415 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,280 liberality. For to their power I bear 416 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:29,960 record. Yay. 417 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,920 And beyond their power they are willing of themselves, praying 418 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:36,280 us with much entreaty that we should receive the gift and take 419 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:40,040 upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the Saints. 420 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:48,840 So you cannot out give the Lord, you cannot out give the Lord and 421 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:51,920 remember again these two wonderful promises. 422 00:23:52,360 --> 00:23:54,360 Verse 13 I can do all things through Christ, which 423 00:23:54,360 --> 00:23:57,400 strengtheneth me and but my God shall supply all your need 424 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,440 according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 425 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:04,160 Verse 19 were written to a missions minded sacrificial and 426 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:06,680 giving church. So if you're going to get 427 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:10,120 involved in missions giving, those two promises are 428 00:24:10,120 --> 00:24:12,800 especially for you to claim before the Lord, he can 429 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:16,280 strengthen you to do it and to be content along with that and 430 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,000 and he can supply your every need. 431 00:24:19,360 --> 00:24:21,320 Let's pray, Father, we pray you bless this church. 432 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:23,480 Thank you for it. We thank you for the Philippian 433 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:27,280 Church and for its example. Lord in giving, we pray Lord 434 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,320 that you give us a heart Lord, to continue to give. 435 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,280 Lord, we pray you bless the efforts of this church as it 436 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:35,200 seeks to reach out in the area of missions. 437 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:38,880 We pray you use them mightily and bless them and supply their 438 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:41,200 every need. Lord, as they do give by faith 439 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:47,600 in Jesus name, Amen. Amen. 440 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:50,320 Well, I hope you'll pray about what God wants you to give. 441 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:55,240 And you know that that is one of the things about faith promised 442 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,160 giving, the whole purpose of faith promised giving. 443 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:58,880 I hope you'll take a couple minutes and read through that 444 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:01,040 little pamphlet. It's got some good Bible verses 445 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,640 in there, but it talks about the idea of what faith promised 446 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,080 giving is. I'm going to give this by faith 447 00:25:06,120 --> 00:25:08,880 and then just pray that God will provide it, right? 448 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,920 And that that requires many times us stepping outside of our 449 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:14,280 comfort zone, But that's when God really answers those prayers 450 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,640 and when God really does things for us beyond what we thought we 451 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:20,640 could do. And that's exactly what, you 452 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:23,880 know, the, the, that he was, he was commending this church for. 453 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,600 It's just that they gave more than what he thought they could 454 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:30,200 give more than what they were expected to give, But they, they 455 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:32,360 gave and, and God used them in a great way. 456 00:25:32,360 --> 00:25:37,240 So take some time to pray about that and about probably by the 457 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:39,920 end of April or so, we'll, we'll ask you to make sure you have 458 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:43,280 those back in. And you know, we'll just, we'll 459 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:45,400 see what the Lord allows us to do this year with, with 460 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:49,160 missions. So let's go and stand and we're 461 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:50,400 going to close in a word of prayer. 462 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:55,600 And we normally have our prayer meeting at 8:30 for the men on 463 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:57,360 Saturday nights. We won't have that tonight. 464 00:25:57,360 --> 00:25:59,120 Most, some of you won't even be home by that time. 465 00:25:59,120 --> 00:26:02,920 So, but we'll just just take some time to pray together as a 466 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:05,600 family if you can, and then we'll be back here in the 467 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,640 morning for Sunday school at 9:30 and looking forward to what 468 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,200 the Lord has for us. But let's pray, and then we'll 469 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,760 close with each one can reach one Father again.