7.11.52 11.26.2023 Grit, Gifts, Greetings Philippians 4.10-23
Completing the Work God Began • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Entice: We should treasure our interactions with one another. We do not know when they will end. Paul and the Philippians had a unique relationship. He didn’t know whether he would write them or see them again, nor did they know what their contact with him would be in the future. They clearly shared an affectionate brotherly love that each treasured. They shared mission and focus even when they were miles apart. A central lesson for us, drawn from the entirety of the epistle is that we should encourage one another whenever we can as the time grows short.
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.
22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Engage: When we encourage one another like that, we strengthen the whole Church. Paul was refreshed by the Philippians and their efforts bore fruit in Paul’s imprisonment. He encouraged them and healed tattered relationships focusing the Church on the truthfulness of the Gospel and their role in proclaiming the risen Christ in their little corner of a fallen culture.
Expand: It is easy to rush through the end of an Epistle. Surely, we’ve considered all the “good stuff.” I grew up in southern Illinois. There is nothing better than scraping the plate with a bit of bread. Paul may sound a
little chatty, yet some of his words in this text are so well regarded they are repeated in contexts where they don’t really apply—an odd way to demonstrate love and appreciation for scripture! The letter ends but not our entanglement with culture and engagement with one another. Paul demonstrates a strength and determination that was important as the doctrinal heart of the epistle.
Excite: We show that we understand his message when we practice it.
Explore:
Together in Christ our faith is more durable.
Together in Christ our faith is more durable.
Expand: Paul discusses how this durability is displayed.
Body of Sermon: durability is demonstrated by
1 Grit.
1 Grit.
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
1.1 Sharing
1.1 Sharing
1.2 Satisfaction
1.2 Satisfaction
1.3 Strength
1.3 Strength
Next, Paul describes how his faith was made more durable by the Philippians
2 Generosity.
2 Generosity.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
2.1 Concern.
2.1 Concern.
2.2 Contentment.
2.2 Contentment.
2.3 Credit.
2.3 Credit.
Finally, Paul discusses the simplest component of durability…simple personal
3 Greetings.
3 Greetings.
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.
22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Being pleasant, kind, friendly, and fraternal goes long way to making ministry in our world worthwhile.
He talks about
3.1 The Brotherhood.
3.1 The Brotherhood.
He describes his
3.2 The Environment.
3.2 The Environment.
And understands the realities of theirs.
And He ends where he began, with.
3.3 God’s Grace.
3.3 God’s Grace.
Shut Down
Some of the Philippians , after all the intervening years, were probably still embarrassed at how Paul was treated when he first came to Philippi. Unceremoniously jailed for a good deed that impacted someone’s profit.
And yet from a song-filled jail cell and a riverbank prayer meeting came the whole of European Christianity! Our heritage of faith. A man who was beaten and jailed but not defeated.
And once again jailed, he wrote the Philippians from another cell which he took for another opportunity of service.
We certainly need that kind of strength. It takes determination, concern for one another, and loving interaction. Paul begins and ends his letters with greetings because in those greetings God conveys grace.
Are you extending God’s grace-greeting to others? How is your grit, do you celebrate your gifts as well as gifting others?
Small expressions of joyful faith make all the difference in a fallen and incoherent world. The strength God gives helps us make sense and make our way in this fallen world as His little Church.