Is preaching to a bunch of sleepy Baptists is never easy
after a meal like this. So I know how it goes.
But we're going to turn in our Bibles tonight to Philippians
chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4.
As we look at the theme tonight, the joy of missions giving.
The joy of missions giving, you say, how can the word joy and
the Word give go together? Because sometimes we hear the
word give and it makes us feel anything but joyful.
But actually, if you understand the Bible and God's heart for
giving, it's possible to give with joy.
In fact, that's the kind of giving God wants.
And God doesn't need our money, does he?
In fact, he's more concerned about having our hearts and but
if he has our hearts, then we'll be willing to be used of God as
a channel. And that's really what it comes
down to. We want to allow God to use us
as a channel for giving. When I was a little boy, my
mother taught me Simeon, you can never out give the Lord.
And that's certainly true. You can never out give the Lord
and we don't give to get. But I have seen in my life
today, if I'm faithful to give as the Lord leads, the Lord
supplies the needs and the Lord blesses that and God is mighty,
God is able. And and so we look tonight at
the joy of mission's giving. When you think about our God, is
not our God a giving God? For God so loved the world that
he gave. So giving is right at the heart
of it all, isn't it? God gave his Son the greatest
gift of all. And so it shouldn't be too much
for us to give back a little bit of what he's entrusted to us for
the support of his work. And so Philippians 4, verse 10.
And we're going to read to verse 20.
And why don't you read? Why don't we read this
responsibly to keep you awake? I'll read verse 10.
You read verse 11. We'll go back and forth like
that until we get to verse 20. The Bible reads.
But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now the last your
care of me hath flourished again, wherein you were also
careful, but you lacked opportunity.
Whatsoever state I am their way to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound
everywhere and in all things. I'm instructed both to be full
and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I do all things through Christ that strengthened me.
Notwithstanding you have well done that you did communicate
with my affliction. For even in Thessalonica ye sent
once and again unto my necessity.
But I have all and abound. I am full, having received of
Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a
sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to
God. Now unto God and our Father be
glory forever and ever, Amen. Let's pray.
Father, we thank you for the opportunity to assemble here
again tonight. We thank you for this church,
what it stands for. Thank you, Lord, that there is a
heart for missions here. We thank you for the good meal
tonight and all the sacrifice there, the hands that prepared
it. We pray now that you would
strengthen us in the inner man and enable us to receive from
your word and we'll look to you now.
We look to you now for your blessing in Jesus name, Amen.
You know, Paul was really a living testimony of the theme of
the epistle. The theme of Philippians is joy.
And we see in the apostle Paul's life that his joy was not
dictated by his circumstances. This was one of the, this is one
of the prison epistles. And even though Paul was in
prison, he still knew how to rejoice in God.
And he he rejoiced there in God's provision for his needs
through the church at Philippi. And so the Philippian Church had
been a blessing in supporting the Apostle Paul in his mission
work and had contributed very generously there to to the
supporting the Apostle Paul. Now interestingly, at the time
when Paul wrote Philippians, the Philippian Church was
approximately 10 years old. So I understand it's your 10
year anniversary this year. And that's really what we see
here is quite a testimony concerning a young church.
And it's hard to give you. So we're just a small church.
We're just a young church. We haven't been around for many
years. Well, you can still be used of
God to be a blessing in this area of missions giving.
And here Paul writes to commend and to encourage a church that
was around 10 years old that had been a source of blessing and a
source of help to him as he went about in missionary endeavour.
So I want to just give you 3 points tonight and I'm trimming
this message back just to give you a quick overview of the of
the text. And normally it would take about
an hour to get through this, but I'll just hit the highlights so
that you can go home and get some rest before tomorrow.
But look in verse 10 through 14 at what I would call the renewal
of their support, the renewal of their support.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at the last,
your care of me hath flourished again.
And so they had supported Paul in the past, but now they had
sent further support through Epaphroditus.
And Paul describes this as a flourishing.
He uses a a agricultural term there like a like the sprouting
of a of a plant in spring. And so we see the apostles
commendation in verse 10. His commendation there was joy
and rejoicing in the apostles heart because of the giving of
God's people. And you know, sending financial
aid to those in in in in in the work of the Lord can is one way
we can really encourage them in the frontline of the of the
battle. Paul's in a, in a difficult
situation and their renewed support brought encouragement to
him. And so there's the commendation
there. He rejoiced over their giving
that had flourished again. They had been a source of
blessing to him. And that's how we that's one way
we can be a blessing to servants of God.
We need to pray for them, of course, but we can encourage
them and and strengthen them and help them with that practical
means of financial support. Then we look at the apostles
contentment. The apostles contentment in
verse 11 to 13 and in the process of thanking the
Philippian Church, the apostle Paul shares how the Lord had
taught him contentment. One thing the apostle Paul is
very clear about in this passage is that he wasn't really after
their money in a carnal sense. God had taught him to trust and
dependence upon God in All in all situations, and yet at the
same time he's thanking them and commending them for their heart
to support him. So he says there in verse 11,
not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned in
whatsoever state I am therewith to be.
What's that word content? I know both how to be abased and
I know how to abound everywhere and in all things.
I'm instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound
and to suffer need. I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me. And so Paul knew what it was to
be content in his life in times of abundance, in times of
adversity. And you notice there the keyword
learned for I have learned in what sort of a state I am there.
We have to be contented. You know, the contentment does
not come naturally. It's something that we have to
learn. OK, Our our, our sin nature is
such that we always want more. We Live Today in societies that
very much promote discontentment.
And they want you to be discontented.
So then you'll buy more of their products.
They want to try and create a sense of, of want and a sense
of, of desiring you all the time.
And so this is something that we have to learn.
Paul had to learn what it was to be content.
And contentment is a is a very important thing in the Christian
life, especially in a materialistic age.
We are living in a, in, in the age of materialism.
And if we're not careful, we can get caught up in that and get
caught up in the world's priorities.
And the Bible actually warns that if you make riches your
goal in life, you expose yourself to very It's a
spiritual dangers, one Timothy 6/6 through 10 says.
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought
nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing
out. And having food and raiment, let
us be there with content. But they that will be rich.
The Word has the idea of to desire fall into temptation and
a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown
men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while
some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced
them themselves through with many sorrows.
So be very careful about about making riches your goal in life.
As it's been well said, it's not wrong to have money, but there's
something wrong with money has you.
OK, It's not wrong to have money as long as money doesn't have
you. And for many people today, money
has them. But as a believer, you can just
be content. It's wonderful to be content
with a simple life, content with what the Lord provides because
we have much greater blessings that the world knows nothing
about. Eternal life, forgiveness of
sins, a home in heaven, mansion, glory.
And we see this world through the lens of Scripture, knowing
that whatever we own in this life we won't be taking with
this. So therefore let's use our
resources for something that will count for eternity.
Now you say, well, how was Paul able to be content?
Look at verse 13. What does it say?
I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.
You know, this is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible,
but people forget it's in the context of contentment.
In fact, people like to claim that verse today is like a
prosperity verse, but actually look at the context.
It's about being content even in times of want.
In fact, as we're going to see, there's really 2 verses in this
chapter that are frequently quoted by Christians.
Verse 13, I can do all things through Christ, which
strengtheneth me. And verse 19 But my God shall
supply all you'll need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus. But they forget that both those
wonderful promises were written to a giving church, a church
that had a heart to give two missions.
And so I'm not saying it's wrong to claim those verses as a
believer, but I'm just saying those verses in context are
spoken to a giving church, a mission minded church.
And a church that takes giving to mission seriously can really
claim those promises and trust for God's strengthening and for
God's supply. So that's the first point there.
We see he commends them for the renewal of their support.
And then look at #2 what I call the remembrance of their
support, the remembrance of their support.
And Paul recounts how the Philippian Church had been
faithful to him. Their support of him was not
new. They had done this for him in
the past. Now you Philippians know also
that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from
Macedonia, no church communicated with me as
concerning giving and receiving, but ye only, for even in
Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
So you see here that the the Apostle Paul had been the
recipient of faithful giving from this church in the past and
10 years on, they still had a heart to support the Apostle
Paul and had sent fresh relief through Epaphroditus.
So we could say their support was rare.
Their support was rare. Verse 15, he Paul mentions the
fact that no other church had communicated with him as
concerning giving and receiving. But ye only only the Philippian
church and it tells you something there.
The the support that he received was something that was rare.
Not many churches supported the apostle Paul.
Now there were others. Of course, he robbed, he talked
about taking support from other churches, but it's interesting
that in his work of the gospel there, as he left the Macedonian
area, they were the only church that were faithful in giving to
him. And when Paul talks about the
beginning of the gospel there, he's referring back to his early
mission work in Macedonia about 10 years previously.
So that word beginning means commencement or origin.
So Paul departed from Macedonia, went into OK to the cities of
Athens and Corinth. Corinth, sorry.
And Paul would later remind the Corinthian church that he
administered among them, supported by other churches,
Second Corinthians 11/8 through 9.
And so this church had been faithful in supporting the
apostle Paul, and it really speaks volumes for a church that
was just newly planted, a young church.
So how can God use us? We're not as big as other
churches. God can use you.
God can use this church, which is a similar age to the
Philippian church at the time Paul was writing.
That's a great encouragement. A little as much when God is in
it. In fact, I think about our
service for the Lord, I think about our giving and compared to
the need, it's just so small. And I think about that little
boy with his five loaves and two fishes and you look at that.
It's just, it was just so small compared to the huge need, but
placed in the Masters hands, the Lord could multiply it and
minister it to many. And that's what we need.
We just bring the little that we have.
And yeah, compared to humanly speaking, compared to the huge
need out there, it doesn't look like much, but you put it in the
Lord's hands and he can do much with it, with his power.
And so that's what we, that's what we need to do, just be
faithful and continue on. And so this was a wonderful,
this is a wonderful example in the church, a church that
really, it seems from its early days had a heart to support the
Apostle Paul and continued on in faithfulness in supporting the
Apostle Paul. So their support was rare.
Verse 15, we could say their support was repeated.
Verse 16. For even in Thessalonica he sent
once and again unto my necessity.
So even when he was still in the Macedonia region there
ministering in Thessalonica, they had supported him once and
again. So at least twice there they had
sent financial aid to the Apostle Paul.
Do you have a heart to support the work of missions, then?
A Ravenhill said today Christians spend more money on
dog food than missions. That's convicting, isn't it?
Today Christians tend to spend more money on dog food than
missions. It's amazing, isn't it, what
people spend on their pampered pooch?
I mean, aisles, I don't know what it's like here, but at
home, aisles of literally aisles in the grocery store there of
stuff for the dog. And I'm not against, I'm not
saying you should be mean to your pet.
You should look after your pet. But there is something wrong
when we can spend more on our pet than the work of the gospel.
Can't afford to give to missions past it or how much did you
spend on coffee last week? Can't afford to give to missions
past it. How much did you spend on your
favorite luxury? Can't afford to give to missions
past it? How much did you spend on your
rifles and ammunition and your hobbies?
Now again, it's not a sin to have some of those things.
I'm just saying it's good to stop and think, isn't it?
Where's the priority in our finances?
Is it eternal things or selfish things?
Third Point #3 look at the reward of their support.
And here's some real encouragement here.
Verse 17 through 19. Not because I desire a gift, but
I desire fruit. That may abound to your account,
but I have all and abound. I'm full, having received of
Epaphroditus the things which are sent from you, an odor of a
sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to
God, but my God shall supply all your need according to his
riches in glory by Christ Jesus. There were three blessings that
the Philippian Church could expect as a result of their
faithful giving, and we can apply them to ourselves as well.
The principle applies, blessing #1 the abounding of fruit.
The abounding of fruit. Verse 17.
Not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound
to your account. Isn't that an amazing statement
that God would credit to the Philippian church's account,
really the results of Paul's ministry?
Paul would get a reward, no doubt before the Lord, but
that's the way God sees it. And that's that really lifts
missions giving to a high level. You give to faith, promise, and
then that money goes to supporting missionaries all
across the globe, different parts of the harvest field as we
support them and they win souls for Christ.
There's a reward for us in that. That's how God sees it.
That should motivate you to give to missions because we want
fruit. Paul said I desire that, not
because I desire a gift. Paul wasn't.
Again, we can see Paul wasn't really in this for himself.
He wasn't like the prosperity teachers trying to just bleed
people of money for his own selfish gains.
No, Paul was a spiritual man. His heart was there for souls,
and his heart was to see the Philippian church rewarded by
God at the judgment seat of Christ for faithful giving.
So he he desired fruit that would abound to their account.
I think that's amazing that the giving of temporal things in
this life can result in eternal fruit.
And God views our giving to missions as a part of the
process in bringing souls to himself.
That's how God sees it. So that should encourage you to
be faithful in the giving of missions because it means fruit
that will abound to your account.
I'm amazed actually, I'm amazed that God would, would, would
love us enough to save us. And then I'm really amazed that
he would be willing to go beyond that and reward us for our
pathetic attempts to serve him. But that's the heart of God
heart to reward us and to bless us.
And so give, give to missions. Be a part of that great work of
supporting the work of the gospel because as souls are
saved in the harvest fields of the world, that's fruit that
abounds to your account. That's how God sees it.
We're all a team in this. It's all there are many links in
a chain, aren't there to bring us all across and and we can
just be a part of that great team effort of seeing people
come to the Lord. Second, blessing the approval of
God. So the abounding of fruit #2 the
approval of God. Look at God's perspective on
giving. But I have all and abound.
I am full having received of Epaphroditus the things which
are sent from you. And look at how Paul describes
their gift, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable,
well pleasing to God. What's he describing there?
He's describing their missions offering to him and he said it
was an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well
pleasing to God. And Paul is drawing here on the
imagery of the Old Testament, and in particular the sweet
savour offerings to describe the gift from this church.
And so in the church age, we don't OfferUp animal sacrifices,
but we offer up the sacrifice of Christian service and we offer
up the sacrifice of giving. And it's a sweet smell to God.
It brings joy to the missionary, but more importantly, it brings
joy to the heart of our God. It's a sacrifice acceptable and
well pleasing to God. So this lifts missions giving to
a high level, doesn't it? We can expect the abounding of
fruit, fruit that abounds to our account.
We can expect the approval of God.
This is something that pleases God.
After all, God himself is a giving God.
It's a part of his nature and his character.
He loves a cheerful giver. Then we can expect the the third
blessing, the assistance of God, the assistance of God.
Verse 19 but my God shall supply all your need according to his
riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Again, I emphasize this
wonderful promise was written to a church that was sacrificing in
giving to missions. And so you say, well, pastor, I
just don't know how it's going to work out financially for me
to give to the missions, the faith promise missions there of
the giving program of the church.
I just don't know how it's going to work.
Well, you can claim verse 19 here.
If you will give as the law directs you, you can claim verse
19 because this promise was given to a mission, missions
minded missions giving church. The word supply there means to
fulfill, to fulfill. In fact, it comes from the same
root word translated I am full in the previous verse.
So they filled Paul's every need to overflowing and God would do
the same for them. Note the connection here between
full and supply. The apostle was full on account
of the gift sent to him. Now God would fill what they
lacked. And that's true, isn't it?
When you, when you give of your own resources, that leaves a
lack on your part. Now, well the Lord has promised
to fill that and to provide your need.
Now notice it doesn't say God will provide all of our wants.
OK, sometimes what we have on our list are a whole lot of
wants. Now God will supply our need and
He does that. So this is a verse that you can
claim as a church because this verse applies to individuals
within the church giving commissions, but it also applies
to the church because, you know, even as a pastor, Psalm, as you
look, you think, wow, we're giving all this money
commissions. Imagine what we could do with
that here. But this is God's way the church
takes that step of faith. Individuals in the church take a
step of faith and the church as a whole takes that step of faith
to send those resources to the work of missions.
And this verse can therefore be claimed by the church also
because he's writing to the Church of Philippi.
So it's a wonderful, wonderful verse there of promise that can
be laid hold of the individuals and for faithful churches that
are giving to the work of missions.
Now remember, the Philippian church was not a wealthy church
like Latus. Here they go by faith even in
their poverty. This is described in 2nd
Corinthians 8 one through 4. Remember, the Philippian Church
was one of the Philippian Church was one of the Macedonian
churches. Moreover, brethren, we do to wit
of the grace of God bestowed on the Church of Macedonia how they
in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and
their deep poverty abounded under the riches of their
liberality. For to their power I bear
record. Yay.
And beyond their power they are willing of themselves, praying
us with much entreaty that we should receive the gift and take
upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the Saints.
So you cannot out give the Lord, you cannot out give the Lord and
remember again these two wonderful promises.
Verse 13 I can do all things through Christ, which
strengtheneth me and but my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Verse 19 were written to a missions minded sacrificial and
giving church. So if you're going to get
involved in missions giving, those two promises are
especially for you to claim before the Lord, he can
strengthen you to do it and to be content along with that and
and he can supply your every need.
Let's pray, Father, we pray you bless this church.
Thank you for it. We thank you for the Philippian
Church and for its example. Lord in giving, we pray Lord
that you give us a heart Lord, to continue to give.
Lord, we pray you bless the efforts of this church as it
seeks to reach out in the area of missions.
We pray you use them mightily and bless them and supply their
every need. Lord, as they do give by faith
in Jesus name, Amen. Amen.
Well, I hope you'll pray about what God wants you to give.
And you know that that is one of the things about faith promised
giving, the whole purpose of faith promised giving.
I hope you'll take a couple minutes and read through that
little pamphlet. It's got some good Bible verses
in there, but it talks about the idea of what faith promised
giving is. I'm going to give this by faith
and then just pray that God will provide it, right?
And that that requires many times us stepping outside of our
comfort zone, But that's when God really answers those prayers
and when God really does things for us beyond what we thought we
could do. And that's exactly what, you
know, the, the, that he was, he was commending this church for.
It's just that they gave more than what he thought they could
give more than what they were expected to give, But they, they
gave and, and God used them in a great way.
So take some time to pray about that and about probably by the
end of April or so, we'll, we'll ask you to make sure you have
those back in. And you know, we'll just, we'll
see what the Lord allows us to do this year with, with
missions. So let's go and stand and we're
going to close in a word of prayer.
And we normally have our prayer meeting at 8:30 for the men on
Saturday nights. We won't have that tonight.
Most, some of you won't even be home by that time.
So, but we'll just just take some time to pray together as a
family if you can, and then we'll be back here in the
morning for Sunday school at 9:30 and looking forward to what
the Lord has for us. But let's pray, and then we'll
close with each one can reach one Father again.