Giving That Glorifies God

Laurel Bible Church

Subscribe

Download

Share

00

00:00

This is Philippians chapter 4 verses 15 through 20

00:05

Now we pick up in the close of Paul's letter so in the context

00:11

Really of a challenge for the Philippians to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ So we can read this last chapter and it's in in that light even starting back in chapter 3 verse 20

00:27

Paul is giving this challenge to them to live their lives in such a way that they would attain an eternal reward in light of Christ's return and future glory.

00:37

He says press on and so in in chapter 3 verse 20 Read along with me

00:44

He says for this reason for our citizenship is in heaven From which also we eagerly wait for a

00:52

Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform the body of Our humble state into conformity into the body of his glory

01:00

By his working through which he is able to even subject all things to himself

01:06

He says therefore my brothers loved and longed for my joy and crown in this way

01:12

Stand firm in the Lord my beloved. I Urge you odia and I urge

01:17

Syntyche to think the same way in the Lord Indeed I ask you also genuine companion help these women who have contended together

01:28

Alongside of me in the gospel with also Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life

01:35

Rejoice in the Lord always again. I will say rejoice Let your considerate spirit be known to all men.

01:44

The Lord is near Be anxious for nothing But in everything by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving Let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all

01:58

Comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus Finally brothers

02:06

Whatever is true Whatever is dignified whatever is right?

02:12

Whatever is pure Whatever is lovely Whatever is commendable if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise

02:22

Consider these things the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me

02:29

Practice these things and the God of peace will be with you But I rejoiced in the

02:35

Lord greatly that now at last you have revived thinking about me

02:41

Indeed you were thinking about me before but you lacked opportunity Not that I speak from want for I learned to be content in whatever circumstances.

02:51

I am I Know how to get along with humble means and I also know how to live in abundance in any and all things

02:59

I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry Both of having abundance and suffering need

03:06

I can do all things through him who strengthens me Nevertheless you have done well to fellowship with me in my affliction verse 15 and You yourselves also know

03:19

Philippians that at the first preaching of the gospel After I left Macedonia no church fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone

03:30

For even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs

03:35

Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the fruit which increases to your account

03:41

But I have received everything in full and have an abundance I have been filled having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent a fragrant aroma and acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God and My God will fulfill all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus Now to our

04:06

God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen Greet every Saint in Christ Jesus The brothers who are with me greet you all the

04:15

Saints greet you and especially those of Caesars household The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

04:23

These verses before us this morning verses 15 through 20 are both practical from a human point of view and Divine from an eternal point of view.

04:33

It's really amazing if you think about it In this short section Paul's describing the history between the

04:40

Philippian congregation and himself He's obviously extremely grateful for their support

04:47

Having just brought this up and discussed what a benefit their gift was for him in verses 10 through 14

04:53

Paul really just starts to qualify what it means and He brings up the history between the two of them between the two parties

05:01

Paul in the church, of course It's practical in that he mentions Epaphroditus He mentioned some of their history and how he had been in Macedonia and Thessalonica He acknowledged their continued support, but there's a few things that just kind of like pop out of the text

05:17

He says they were in fellowship together He acknowledged they've been with him from the beginning and he's grateful for that He's grateful for the support

05:28

Just think about it when you start something new in life whether it's some new start in education or continuing education or Starting a new job and you can think about the people that support you

05:44

Whereas there's hardships along the way There's difficulties in the journey But when you look back

05:51

Over your time in school or over a career there there were the

05:56

Relationships that you've had that that got you through the difficult times or challenging times

06:03

There's always a deep bond of affection for those people that supported you You look back with love and affection and that's what

06:12

Paul's doing here in this part of the letter It's really astonishing how he concludes this section with an eternal perspective

06:20

Letting the church know that what they've done has not only benefited him, but it meant a lot

06:26

But it was also counted for them on their account. It was a credit for them It's a pleasing offering.

06:33

It's a sacrifice. It's an offering that Pleases God and it brings glory to God and even more amazing he's saying in response to their gift that God is going to supply all of their needs and This isn't prosperity gospel nonsense

06:49

He says God's going to supply all of their needs according to the riches and glory in Christ Jesus But there's an aspect of the physical and spiritual as the

07:00

Heavenly Father supplies his children The passage teaches us something that I think is really important for our own lives

07:08

To acknowledge the people in our lives that have helped us along the way That's the practical side the divine side is to acknowledge that those people and the physical supplies are all from God and The spiritual enablement and strength that got us through are all from God the special people in your life

07:32

The special people in your life that you can think of when you reflect back on times of difficulty

07:39

Right, it may be the death of a loved one. It might be a strained marriage

07:46

Daily adversity Fighting the temptation to sin Climbing the ladder of life and getting that degree getting that certification getting that job

07:56

Going from point A to point B and you look back and there was support along the way financial earthly necessities things you needed and didn't have and Exactly at the right time

08:08

God Provided those things God provided the means and in God's common grace whether you're a believer or not

08:16

He provided he provided Ultimately for the believer God will supply all of our needs according to his riches and glory in Jesus Christ Our supply to the local church should be based on God's supply of grace in the gospel

08:33

Our giving should be done as an act of worship in response to God's gift of salvation in Today's passage the

08:40

Apostle Paul highlights three important aspects of giving so that you can support the church and gospel ministry and bring glory to God Number one faithful fellowship in the gospel means faithful giving

08:52

Number two freely giving is a pleasing offering to God and number three

08:57

Fulfilling his children's physical and spiritual needs brings glory to God Now up to this point in the letter

09:05

Paul had discussed his circumstances in getting arrested He spent the first part of the letter exhorting the

09:10

Philippians to stand firm in their biblical convictions amid persecution

09:16

Paul also gave them a strong admonishment to be united in humility by remembering and following Christ's example of humility.

09:25

He encouraged them to be lights in a dark world He gave an update on the circumstances of Timothy and Epaphroditus and more importantly commended the men as examples to follow in the theological meat of Paul's letter he warned the congregation against legalism and against lawlessness in Chapter 4 verses 1 through 9

09:48

Paul closed his letter with a final exhortation to the Philippians to live in unity

09:54

To be joyful in their circumstances and to continue in prayer in all things in verses 10 through 20

10:02

Paul stated that he was thankful and grateful for the Philippians generosity in their support for the spiritual and physical needs of Paul in his gospel ministry as Paul highlights these areas of the generosity

10:16

He gives us an extremely helpful window into the theological foundation

10:22

Forgiving and their consequences in the provision from God and glory due to God three important aspects of giving so that you can support the church and gospel ministry and Bring glory to God number one

10:40

Faithful fellowship in the gospel means faithful giving Faithful fellowship in the gospel means faithful giving this is verses 15 and 16

10:51

Paul says and you yourselves also know Philippians that at the first preaching of the gospel after I left

10:57

Macedonia No church fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone

11:03

Following Paul's mention of fellowshipping or sharing with him in affliction Paul now describes that fellowship the idea of sharing or fellowshipping with him is more than just the physical provision that was provided The fellowshipping

11:18

Paul describes in verse 15 is the idea of joining in a partnership with someone And this takes us back to the beginning of the letter and demonstrates

11:26

Paul's loving attitude Toward the believers there his brothers and sisters in Christ Go back to chapter 1 read read with me chapter 1 verse 7

11:38

So his comments here take us back to the beginning Philippians 1 7 for it is only right for me to think this way about you all because I have you in my heart

11:50

Since both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel you all are fellow partakers with me in this grace

12:00

The term translated fellow partakers is one word in the Greek It is the noun form of the verb to fellowship from verse 14

12:11

Chapter 4 so turn back to chapter 4 Look at verse 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to fellowship with me in my affliction

12:21

Sometimes translated sharing as in you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty

12:29

The Philippians are sharers with Paul in his ministry and his affliction the persecution

12:35

Verse 15 makes Paul's thinking crystal clear This is an emphatic use of the second person plural pronoun you the verb to know already has that in it

12:47

The verb to know already has the second person plural pronoun included But Paul attaches the pronoun on top of it, you know, you yourselves

12:57

Know Philippians see the emphatic use there, you know, you yourselves

13:04

Know this is significant because Paul is saying I don't need to call in other witnesses

13:09

No one else needs to come and tell me about this for you yourselves. Know that what

13:15

I'm saying is true They were present in the first preaching of the gospel in Philippi The historical account from the

13:23

Acts of the Apostles is helpful for Paul's reference of the events So he's talking about this first preaching of the gospel

13:30

Turn with me over to Acts chapter 16 So if you want to hear a little bit about the a good place to look in your

13:37

Bible for the Church of Philippi And Paul's early missionary activities Acts 16 is the place to go for the church in Philippi So put one finger in in Philippians.

13:48

We'll say we'll look at Acts 16 for just a second here Acts 16 even starting in verse 11

13:56

It says so setting sail from Troas We ran a straight course to some off race and on the day following to Neapolis and from there to Philippi which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia a

14:08

Roman colony and we were staying in this city for some days and on the Sabbath day

14:13

We went outside the gate to a riverside where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer and sitting down we began speaking to the women who had assembled and a woman named

14:25

Lydia from the city of Thyatira a Seller of purple fabrics a worshiper of God was listening whose heart the

14:33

Lord opened to pay attention to the things spoken by Paul and When she and her household had been baptized she urged us saying if you have judged me to be faithful to the

14:45

Lord come into my house and stay and She prevailed upon us The first preaching of the gospel in Philippi, but then

14:53

Paul says after he left no church supported him Referring to the time he first left

14:58

Philippi approximately ten years earlier again acts is helpful here So you're still in chapter 16 go down to verse 40

15:06

Acts 16 Starting in verse 40 we pick back up and they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia And when they saw the brothers they encouraged them and left

15:18

Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica Where there was a synagogue of the

15:26

Jews and according to Paul's custom He went to them and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures explaining and setting before them that Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead and Saying this

15:40

Jesus who I am proclaiming to you. Is that Christ? Including Philippi Paul also ministered to two other towns in Macedonia Berea and Thessalonica as mentioned in verse 16 of chapter 4.

15:55

So look with me go back to chapter 4 of Philippians Paul continues chapter 4 verse 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs

16:07

The gift was acknowledged and there was an extreme gratitude

16:12

And this is an important acknowledgment and a practical example for us to follow as Christians giving credit where credit is due

16:21

Sometimes in life we take things for granted You know, I think if we're often honest we could probably even use the word often, you know

16:29

Often we we do take things for granted. We may often take things for granted Or we may take for granted the people that God has placed in our lives

16:40

That have supported us and helped us through difficult circumstances looking at Paul's example of acknowledging and Giving credit where credit is due gives us a good example of how we can apply these verses

16:55

Today when you get home from church think about who God has placed in your life that has helped you

17:03

Thank God first you give credit where credit is due, but then sit down and call that person or those people

17:10

Make a phone call let the person know that you are grateful to God for having them in your life

17:17

Right, we write a letter and for the younger kids. That's that's something where you write instead of an email

17:24

You write something down on a piece of paper right You would you would normally write down your thoughts on a piece of paper put it in an envelope and then put a stamp on It and mail it

17:34

Now it's called snail mail because the because emails Instant make a phone call write a letter

17:43

Send an email or do all of the above if possible always go in person.

17:49

I Recommend reaching out personally and then sending something in writing as a follow -up let the person know that you are grateful to God for having them in your life and Do it today.

18:02

Don't don't wait do it today This gratitude must be genuine because it starts with God Think about the theological implication from verse 15

18:13

No church fellowshipped with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone

18:19

The word translated matter conveys a computation or reckoning as in the settlement of an account literally of giving and receiving of debit and credit

18:30

One commentator noted here Paul used three business terms matter of could be translated account giving and receiving refer to expenditures and receipts

18:41

Paul was a faithful steward of God's resources and kept careful records of what he received and spent

18:49

Only the Philippians sent Paul provisions to meet his needs That's helpful because it points out faithful stewardship in the gift

18:58

Also, it clarifies Paul's communication and gratitude but highlights the Philippians motive in giving faithful fellowship in the gospel means faithful giving

19:10

Faithful sharing in the gospel means faithful giving in the local church to support the gospel ministry

19:16

It's a wonderful way to use the monetary provision that comes from God in a way that glorifies

19:22

God The Christian should give as an act of worship to God in a practical way To support the local ministry of the gospel in the setting of the local church

19:30

God then takes it to another level and how the local congregation supports missionaries in the universal church all for the glory of God This eternal viewpoint on giving can help us to think more biblically about finances about money

19:48

Money is only a means to an end Money is not the end all But in our humanity in the fall and living in a fallen world parting with money can be difficult

19:58

What makes money so alluring and giving it away so stressful? Well, sometimes there's a comfort in money.

20:06

It could be a source of strength and trust money can be a measure If you will of our energy,

20:11

I would say to some extent that money can often represent our day -to -day security Think about it giving away our money is like giving away our security

20:21

Giving away money Puts our work and futures at risk. That's one way to think about it.

20:28

I would say that is the wrong way to think about it Our security does not come from the earthly provision of the money

20:34

Our lives are tailored and secured by the living and powerful God of creation

20:40

Trusting in God brings glory to God and we can sometimes have a wrong level of security in money

20:47

Especially if we take the resources for granted or forget that not one penny in our bank account does not come from God Every cent you've ever earned or accrued comes from God and belongs to God But I think discernment also glorifies

21:03

God and not being flippant in our giving and I mean discernment and thinking about who we're supporting

21:09

Paul knew the Philippians and they knew Paul there was a relationship and I'm not saying

21:15

Not to give but I'm saying know who you're giving to Not every charity deserves your attention.

21:23

I Believe based on the passage before us and Paul's intimate relationship with the local congregation

21:28

It is wise to scrutinize missionary appeals as well Think about it like this determine that a gospel ministry or missionary project honors the

21:37

Lord first Pray and don't hold back Give generously and joyfully to the local church to support those who labor in the gospel and qualify biblically sound missionaries through their affiliation with the local church or other known faithful churches that support missions like the

21:59

Philippians you'll be establishing an eternal partnership that glorifies

22:04

God because faithful fellowship in the gospel means Faithful giving and that is a significant aspect of giving so that you can support the church in gospel ministry and bring glory to God Faithful fellowship in the gospel means faithful giving

22:22

But our level of giving is always going to depend on how we see our possessions or the money that we have

22:29

Do they belong to us or do they belong to God? I?

22:34

Read a helpful illustration on giving So this is an illustration on giving and this is one one idea or heart motive here

22:43

The story is that a little girl was given two dollars by her father. So this little kid little girl

22:49

She's given two dollars by her father He told her that she could do anything.

22:55

She wanted with one dollar and the other Was to be given to God on Sunday at church

23:02

So the girl nodded in agreement and asked if she could go to the candy store because one dollars

23:08

God's one dollars mine Let's go to the candy store So with visions of all that she could buy with her dollar she happily skipped toward the store holding tightly to the two dollars in her hand and As she was skipping along she tripped and fell and the wind blew one of the dollars into a storm drain at the curb

23:31

Picking herself up the little girl looked at the dollar still in her hand and then down at the storm drain and said well

23:39

Lord, there goes your dollar It's a funny illustration, but sadly many of us as Christians have that same attitude towards giving

23:49

First me then God first me then God and Paul says it's all from God.

23:55

It is all from God God is the one who has given us everything we have and That is important in thinking about what we have and what we are going to do with what we have three important aspects of giving number two

24:12

Freely giving is a pleasing offering to God Freely giving is a pleasing offering to God verse 17

24:22

Not that I seek the gift itself Paul says but I seek the fruit which increases to your account

24:30

Paul makes it clear in verse 17 that he is not in ministry to receive the gift and this demonstrates

24:36

Paul's heart motive His motive is not gain not just with the Philippians but in ministry to any church

24:43

He's not in it for the gain He wrote about this earlier in his ministry career in his correspondence to the church in Corinth He said something similar in 1st

24:53

Corinthians 9 11 when he wrote if we sowed spiritual things in you Is it too much to if we reap material things from you?

25:02

The fruit which increases to the account of the Philippians is their spiritual growth. That is

25:08

Paul's motive Paul started the letter saying as much so just go back to the beginning of the letter in chapter 1

25:18

Put one finger in chapter 4. Yeah, look at chapter 1 starting in verse 21 He says for to me to live is

25:25

Christ and to die is gain But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me, and I do not know what

25:32

I will choose But I am hard -pressed between the two Having the desire to depart and be with Christ for that is very much better Yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake and Convinced of this

25:47

I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress in joy in the faith So that your reason for boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my coming to you again the whole point of Paul's life at this point is

26:04

Glorifying God in Christ through the spiritual growth of the churches that he planted the gift is a consequence

26:12

He is extremely grateful for but not the reason for the ministry or the work

26:17

The reason is his earnest desire for their spiritual progress and joy in the gospel

26:22

So let's go back to chapter 4 The word Paul uses in chapter 4 verse 17

26:28

Translated seek is also the Greek word for wish wish to be seriously

26:35

Interested or have a strong desire for to wish to wish for something

26:40

He's making it very clear that he has no interest nor desire for the good gift

26:46

They have provided he says I'm here for you The fruit is more than the product or outcome of their faith

26:54

It is the gain or profit that is increasing more and more as to be in abundance to their account

27:02

This is a positive credit on their spiritual account This is the storing up of treasure in heaven that Christ preached about in his

27:12

Sermon on the Mount the physical gifts the Philippians gave to Paul were Accumulating spiritual earnings in their eternal account in heaven

27:22

One of the Puritan commentators paraphrased the verse like this It is not that I seek after the gift, but I do seek after the fruit that aboundeth to your account

27:33

Paul here says what I do seek is your spiritual good in the abounding of fruits of your faith

27:39

Which shall be put down on your account against the day of reward And this is a reference to Hebrews 6 10 for God is not unrighteous

27:48

So as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward his name in having ministered and continuing to minister to the

27:56

Saints Now in verse 18 Paul says their gift was a pleasing sacrifice to God When we give to those serving in ministry it not only benefits the receiver

28:08

But it benefits us as well and this applies to all areas in giving to those in need

28:14

We see this from the Acts of the Apostles when Paul gave his emotional farewell to the elders at the church in Ephesus Paul said

28:24

I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to those who were with me in Everything I showed you that my laboring in this manner

28:36

You must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said it is more blessed to give than to receive

28:42

That's Acts chapter 20 Paul was grateful for the gift and he was joyous that the

28:48

Philippians were storing up treasure for themselves It was not the Philippians gift but their spirit of love and devotion that Paul appreciated most and He wanted them to know that their giving was an act of worship to God Look at what he says in verse 18, but I have received everything in full and have an abundance

29:09

I have been filled having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent a fragrant aroma an acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God Paul says he received in full the complete totality of what is due.

29:26

He is satisfied and lacking nothing Abundance denotes the amount of something but also the plentifulness of the good things sent

29:35

The literal translation here is I have received from Epaphroditus the things from you

29:41

This verse goes back to the purpose of the letter the Philippian congregation Supported Paul they sent

29:48

Paul a gift and fellow believer Epaphroditus to minister to Paul when hearing of his imprisonment

29:55

He wrote to express his thanks for the Philippians gift and to inform the

30:00

Philippians why he sent back Epaphroditus Due to illness. So now Paul wants to explain the theological implications of their giving

30:09

He uses very specific language of the gift that it is pleasing to God This is an act of worship.

30:17

This is a pleasing sacrifice to God Now there is a biblical principle that it is right for the church to support those in ministry

30:25

About three years after writing the letter to the Philippians Which was about 62 Paul wrote to the young pastor and his dear friend

30:33

Timothy in 65 AD. This is the first letter It was before Paul was killed. He told

30:38

Timothy this he said the elders who lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor especially those who labor at preaching the word and teaching for the scripture says

30:49

You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing and the laborer is worthy of his wages.

30:55

That's first Timothy five Donald Guthrie of the London Bible College noted this on Paul's teaching in first Timothy Guthrie said the double honor is somewhat perplexing

31:07

It would seem that some kind of payment is in mind and the double could stand for generous provision on the other hand the use of the word honor may suggest that more than payment is in mind and That respect as well as salary is included but the quotations one from Deuteronomy 25 and the other paralleled in Luke 10 are intended to support the idea of reward for work done a

31:30

Principle which has not always been followed in the history of the Christian Church this linking of an

31:36

Old Testament quotation with a saying of Jesus is Significant since it reflects the high regard in which the teaching of Jesus was held yet Paul recognizes that more than financial support is needed an

31:49

Adequate moral standard must also be maintained This is an important biblical principle that it is right for the church to support those in ministry but there is a great theological implication here having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent a

32:08

Fragrant aroma an acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God Paul is highlighting that their act of giving is an act of worship in his language of a soothing aroma

32:21

Paul is indirectly referencing the Old Testament Genesis 8 then

32:28

Noah built an altar to Yahweh and took every clean animal and every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar and Yahweh smelled the soothing aroma

32:39

How about Exodus 29? You shall offer up and smoke the whole ram on the altar.

32:45

It is a burnt offering to Yahweh It is a soothing aroma and offering by fire to Yahweh Leviticus chapter 1 it's entrails.

32:55

However, its legs he shall wash with water and the priest shall offer up and smoke all of it on the altar for a burnt offering and Offering by fire of a soothing aroma to Yahweh So Paul's point is that in the

33:11

Old Testament it was a sacrifice that was offered with a correct heart attitude that was pleasing to God and he says that applies here to the

33:21

Philippians giving and The Old Testament reference is extremely helpful. But on the other side of the cross, this is even more profound

33:30

Let's think for a moment about the letter of Paul to the Ephesians As he concludes or in the middle of the letter

33:36

Ephesians 5 Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love just as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us and Offering and sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma

33:51

He's using very specific language and he's that's what he's saying. This applies to you

33:58

Your giving is a is a soothing aroma a fragrant offering our life as Christians is to model the life of Christ and one way we can live our lives as an act of worship is the act of giving as Christ freely gave himself for sinners

34:16

We can now respond by freely giving to the ministry of the gospel as an act of worship

34:23

Our giving is a response to the gospel and Paul is making this claim on the theological

34:29

Foundation that freely giving is a pleasing offering to God Giving so that you can support the church the gospel ministry and bring glory to God When I think of freely giving

34:44

I can't help but think about the widow with the two coins the widow with just two coins

34:50

These verses and Philippians made me remember the account from the gospel of Mark. It's in Mark chapter 12 it says and he sat down opposite the

34:58

Treasury and he began observing how the crowd was putting money into the Treasury and Many rich people were putting in large sums and a poor widow came and put in two lepta which amount to a quadrants and Calling his disciples to him.

35:14

He said to them Truly I say to you this poor widow put in more than all those putting money into the

35:21

Treasury For they all put in out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty

35:26

Put in all she owned all she had to live on There is an aspect that giving to the

35:33

Lord should cost us something We see this biblical principle in the Old Testament from from King David 1st

35:40

Chronicles 21 However, King David said to Ornan No But I will surely buy it for the full price for I will not lift up what is yours to Yahweh or offer a burnt

35:50

Offering which costs me nothing. I would say the widow understood that Old Testament principle

35:57

But I would also argue that her giving was an expression of faith.

36:02

It was an act of worship It was an expression of faith and it brought glory to God Do you think she thought for even one second that God was not going to provide for all her needs?

36:16

Of course she did she just gave the Lord everything she owned He says everything she had to live on It was an act of worship.

36:27

It was an expression of faith. She had faith and trusted God to provide because of her faith she could give freely and Jesus pointed out that her offering although it was two leptos two coins was counted more than the wealthy who gave it no cost

36:45

Freely giving is a pleasing offering to God three important aspects of giving number three

36:55

Fulfilling his children's physical and spiritual needs brings glory to God Fulfilling his children's physical and spiritual needs brings glory to God verses 19 and 20 in Verse 19

37:10

Paul continues. He says and my God will fulfill all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus Notice the first person singular pronoun

37:22

My he says my Paul's relationship with God is both personal and intimate

37:29

Paul is recognizing that he is God's possession Paul is his slave his servant.

37:38

He mentions God as his My God the significance is that Paul is saying it is not in his means to repay

37:48

But it is God who will reward their endowment to him Their recompense for their gift to Paul will come from God because Paul is the

37:58

Lord's slave The question we can ask of this verse is what is Paul referring to when he says my

38:05

God will fulfill all your needs Is it spiritual needs physical needs or both?

38:12

Well, the Greek word Paul uses here for needs means that which is lacking or needed hence need

38:18

This is a lack a want a difficulty This is specific of livelihood So it clearly refers to more than the spiritual the lexical meaning of the word conveys a physical aspect

38:29

Paul used a very similar wording in his second letter to the church in Corinth when he wrote this and God is able to make all grace abound to you so that always having all

38:39

Sufficiency in everything you may have an abundance for every good deed. That's 2nd

38:44

Corinthians 9 This kind of wording is comprehensive and it seems to be inclusive of more than spiritual things

38:51

Another clue is Paul's use of the adjective all pertaining to the totality of Everything together.

38:59

It's a focus of the individual components in the big picture each need every need any need

39:06

But what about the spiritual aspect? Well, how does Paul say God will make them full?

39:12

To fill up the Philippians or make them full of things God will do it according to the riches in the glory in Jesus Riches can mean an abundance of many earthly goods but Paul is using the word here is a plentiful supply of something a plentiful supply of something and that is the glory in Christ a supply from Jesus as in humans involved in transcendent circumstances

39:39

Paul is literally saying every need of yours will be supplied by God the riches in Christ One commentator noted this

39:50

According to his riches the measure of his supply to you will be the immeasurable riches of his grace thinking of Ephesians 1 7 in him

40:01

We have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of our transgressions according to the riches of his grace

40:09

Glory is the element in which his grace operates and it will be the element in Which he will supply fully all your need by virtue of your being in not by in Christ Jesus the giver and mediator of all spiritual blessings

40:27

So this cannot be just physical but there is a physical element. So that means that this verse communicates a physical and spiritual blessing

40:37

The spiritual blessing is salvation and repentance as a result of the gospel at Hearing the gospel this gift from God the spiritual blessing

40:47

Paul explained it like this in his letter to the Romans Or do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and tolerance and patience?

40:55

Not knowing that the kindness of God's leads you to repentance God's kindness the riches in God's kindness leads us to repentance

41:06

The physical provision means nothing without the spiritual provision in Christ Paul is giving

41:12

God the glory for the riches we possess in Christ Look at how he finishes in verse 20 now to our

41:19

God and father be the glory Now to our God and father be the glory forever and ever.

41:26

Let it be. So amen God gets the glory because he supplies the riches in glory in Christ Jesus Who gave himself for our sins so that he might rescue us from this present evil age

41:41

According to the will of our God and father again from from Paul Galatians chapter 1

41:47

Paul is saying Glory to our Heavenly Father and great God forever

41:53

Literally glory to our God and father to the ages of ages

41:58

Paul says my God is your God my God is our

42:04

God as Believers we can trust that God will always meet our physical and spiritual needs

42:11

Whatever need we have as Christians on earth God the Father will graciously supply

42:18

Think about Paul's need in the moment of persecution in the prison for the sake of the gospel

42:24

Even if it is the courage to face death as Paul did God will supply

42:30

Whatever spiritual need we have in relationship to heaven God will supply as Believers it is critical that we understand the difference between our wants and our needs

42:44

And this may be in the realm of belief and unbelief I think it's fair to say most unbelievers want to feel good and avoid discomfort or pain in the world.

42:54

I Think if we do a genuine self evaluation, we can admit that we struggle here as well

43:00

As believers, we often want to feel good and avoid discomfort or pain in our daily lives

43:06

We may not get all that we want This verse isn't saying that you're gonna just have everything you want there there are gonna be times of difficulty and through those times of difficulty

43:17

God is going to work in your life and Grow you and conform you more and more into the image of Jesus What are we going to do in response to the adversities in life?

43:28

By trusting in Christ We have everything we need Everything we need

43:35

He has promised to forgive all our sins when we turn away from sin and repent and return to God and believe in the gospel the riches of Christ are imparted to the believer our attitudes can change from wanting every earthly comfort when we give ourselves to Christ by believing in the gospel our

43:58

Appetites can change when we make God's glory and enjoying him forever the focus of our lives by Accepting the provision and power to live for him

44:08

The provision and power comes from God the Father in our response to the gospel

44:13

It is God's good pleasure to care for and provide for his children because fulfilling his children's physical and spiritual needs brings glory to God And that is a pivotal aspect of giving

44:30

Understanding God's glory in his provision should affect the way we live and the way we give

44:38

Again, this is not prosperity gospel baloney. This is gospel truth

44:45

Paul is infected with praise and glory to God and he is merely conveying the similar teaching

44:52

From our Lord Jesus in the believers living for God and the

44:57

Father's provision the words of our Lord Jesus from the preaching of the Sermon on the

45:02

Mount Our Lord Jesus said this for this reason I say to you do not be worried about your life as To what you will eat or what you will drink nor for your body as to what you will put on It's not life more than food and the body more than clothing

45:20

Look at the birds of the air what what that they do not sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly father

45:26

Feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they and who of you by being worried can add a single cubit to his lifespan and Why are you worried about clothing?

45:39

Observe how the lilies of the field grow they do not toil nor do they spin Yet I say to you that not even

45:45

Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these But if God so clothes the grass of the field which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace

45:55

Will he not much more clothed you? you of little faith

46:01

Do not worry then saying what will we eat or what will we drink or what will we wear for clothing?

46:08

For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek for your heavenly father knows that you need all these things

46:15

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you

46:23

So do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself

46:29

Each day has enough trouble of its own. That's the Sermon on the Mount Matthew chapter 6

46:35

By trusting in Christ We have everything we will ever need being able to live for God and The father's provision may we give in response to this truth in Today's passage the

46:50

Apostle Paul highlights three important aspects of giving so that you can support the church in gospel ministry and bring glory to God faithful fellowship in the gospel means faithful giving freely giving is a pleasing offering to God and Fulfilling his children's physical and spiritual needs brings glory to God There is an aspect in the giving that underlines

47:14

God's sovereignty in the human means of provision The provision supplied in the faithful giving of the

47:20

Saints is an aspect of God's divine care for his creation Including his people the provision exists in earthly necessities

47:29

But there is a divine element because the supply ultimately comes from God There is a direct correlation in the earthly provision and eternal truth

47:38

Because the giving is a response to the everlasting life promised and supplied in the gospel

47:45

God gave his son that we might live and the son is the head of the church

47:51

Because of the gospel we can give to the church in a way that glorifies the Son Let me close today with just a word from one of the

47:59

Puritans on Paul's relationships With the the believers and specifically Paul's relationship with the the church there in Philippi with the

48:08

Philippians It's that he said this pride unbelief

48:13

Vain hankering after something we have not God and fickle Disrelish of present things make men discontented even under favorable circumstances

48:25

Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased For humility and a heavenly mind when exalted

48:34

It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always and in a low state

48:40

Not to lose our comfort in God nor distrust his providence

48:45

Nor take any wrong course for our own supply in a prosperous condition not to be proud or secure or worldly This is a harder lesson than the other

48:56

For the temptations of fullness and prosperity are more than those of affliction and want

49:01

The Apostle had no design to urge them to give more But to encourage such kindness as will meet a glorious reward hereafter

49:11

Through Christ. We have a grace to do what is good and through him We must expect the reward and as we have all things by him

49:20

Let us do all things for him and to his glory