From Blessed to Blessing
Turn the page • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 4 views“Turn the Page” by seeing all that you’ve been given as a blessing meant to bless the world.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Today I want to talk about God’s people giving to God’s work.
Now I learned a quote from another Pastor years ago about what happens when Pastor’s starts talk money at church.
It goes “People get funny, when you talk about money”. - Why is that?
I see money as God’s blessing. And to think that I get to invest a portion of that blessing back to God and His Kingdom work joys my heart.
As a Christ follower, does giving to God’s work joy your heart?
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(Slide Only)
As a Christ follower, giving to God’s work is a spiritual matter. It is only one part of our worship to God.
The old testament set’s guidelines for his ppl starting at 10% or a tenth of what you make or harvest. This tenth is where we get the word tithe.
The guideline for tithing and offering today is vastly different, but aptly explained by Paul.
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart. - (Slide Only)
So how much should give to God’s work? 10%?
If giving to God is worship do we only give 10% in other areas of our worship?
10% of our time serving, 10% singing, 10% listening and learning His word?
God finds ways to keep blessing those that bless others and His work.
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
Rejoiced greatly in the Lord for the renewed concern for him and the ministry. Paul is thanking them for the generous gift to the ministry (it takes funds to further the Kingdom of God) and concern to him personally.
About ten years had passed since the Philippians first gave a gift to Paul to help meet his needs when he was first in Thessalonica (vv. 15, 16). Paul was aware of their desire to continue to help, but he realized, within God’s providence, that they had not had the “opportunity” (season) to help.
The word “providence” comes from two Latin words: pro, meaning “before,” and video, meaning “to see.” God’s providence simply means that God sees to it beforehand. It does not mean that God simply knows beforehand, because providence involves much more. It is the working of God in advance to arrange circumstances and situations for the fulfilling of His purposes.
Opportunity: Season.
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
So having plenty or being in need does not matter. What is Paul saying here? God will sustain me and further His work by giving me strength to do it.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
Paul adds a word of clarification here so the Philippians would not think he was being ungrateful for their most recent gift, because of what he had just wrote (vv. 11–13). share. To join in a partnership with someone.
To share in the investment of God’s Kingdom.
15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;
Not one church shared with me. - Some don’t give and some do.
In the matter of giving and receiving - Except you only
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
(Slide only)
Open hand giving and open hand receiving.
16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.
Sent me aid more than once. - They were filling the need Paul and the ministry had.
17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
Not that I desire your gifts. - Paul's Pastoral heart.
17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
What I desire is that more be credited to your account.
Pastor I give to God’s work faithfully and I don’t see any additional funds in my acct.
You might be looking at the wrong acct!
Paul looked on their missionary gift as an investment that would pay them rich spiritual dividends. The church entered into an arrangement of “giving and receiving”; the church gave materially to Paul, and received spiritually from the Lord. The Lord keeps the books and will never fail to pay one spiritual dividend!
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
(Slide only)
18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
More than enough and amply supplied.
Pastor is Church on The Hill amply supplied? Nope. But I am content on where we are right now.
We are still moving forward in building into our vision of reaching the next generation, strengthening the body of believers and furthering His Kingdom.
The giving and investment of God’s ppl into His work sometimes is in direct correlation to how fast we further the Kingdom.
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
God will meet all your needs.
Paul addressed all the Philippians’ material needs, which had probably been depleted to some extent because of their gracious gift. according to His riches.God would give increase to the Philippians in proportion to His infinite resources, not just a small amount out of His riches.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Tammy and I want to testify to this verse. Not to guilt you under compulsion.
In the weeks after we got our giving statement from the church we recieved not one but two unexpected checks that almost totaled what we invested here at Church on The Hill.
So what did we do? Reinvested a portion of that amount. - Cheerfully.
As your Pastor I want to remind you, you can’t out give God.
Lay up treasures in Heaven, trust that God will take care of your needs here on earth and invest into His Kingdom’s work.
Or - Don’t. Remember money and giving is a spiritual thing for believers. It is only one part of our worship to God.
My desire as your Pastor, like Paul is this - I desire is that more be credited to your account.
Understand that for those of you that are Christ followers, if you will invest into God’s Kingdoms work He can move you from blessed to blessing.