Gospel Giving: Philippians 4:14-20

Introduction

Good Morning Church… I know we’re a young church, but I think today has solidified Baptism Sunday as my favorite Sunday of the year. What an encouragement to see and hear the Gospel preached so loudly and clearly through so many. May it continue to bear fruit for the Glory of God!

Prayer

If you would, please go ahead and turn with me to Philippians 4:14-20

If you’re new with us, my name is Andrew McClure and I’m one of the Pastors here, and don’t worry I’m fully aware that we have a a few more children in the room with us this morning, and with the length of our baptisms I’ll be sure to preach a little shorter sermon for us.

It’s hard to believe, but next week we are actually coming to a close in our study of the Book of Philippians.

But here, in Week 20, we are going to address the topic of MONEY.

Now, money is a touchy subject, but let me just be clear and forthright from the outset here:

If you want to be all-consumed in your devotion and discipleship to Jesus Christ, than you must not hold back your wallet.

We can’t compartmentalize our confession.

As famed missionary Hudson Taylor once said, “Christ is either Lord of all, or is not Lord at all.”

And that includes our finances.

And when a Christian loves Christ, it will inevitably effect his or her money.

And although some churches and preachers talk a little too much about money, probably from the wrong motives, we must not shy away from the whole counsel of God, which by the way has a lot to say about money.

So let’s read our text, and then we’ll unpack it together.

Philippians 4:14–20 ESV

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 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. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 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. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

20 Weeks in, as a quick refresher we know that the Author of this letter is the Apostle Paul, and he’s writing to a church that he planted, 10 years prior, in the city of Phillipi in the region of Macedonia.

But a lot has happened in 10 years, Paul has completed 2 more missionary journeys, endured a good amount of afflictions, and as he writes this letter he finds himself in quite the predicament.

He’s in a Roman Prison, unsure of whether he’ll be acuitted and continue his ministry, or convicted and executed as a Christian Martyr.

But Paul really doesn’t care. Right we saw in chapter 1, that if he had to choose between life or death he doesn’t know what he’d choose.

Because Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

So Paul really doesn’t care.

But the little church in Philippi cares a great deal. In fact, they care so much about their Apostle that they sent one of their members, a man named Epaphroditus, 800 miles from Philippi to Rome to financailly provide for his needs while imprisoned.

And what we saw last week, is that he writes back to the church and in essence says,

“I’m good. I don’t need anything. I’m perfectly content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. So I’m satisfied. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

But if he ends the letter there, he could easily leave the little church to wonder!?

“Why did we send him money in the first palce?”

“If he didn’t need it, why did we give it.”

And almost as if in anticipation of these wonderings, Paul says, “YET!”

And what follows is really an answer to their anticipated questions.

He says, “I’m content.... yet there are many reasons to give.”

In fact, he’s going to give us 3 principles to Gospel Centered Giving.

Principle #1: Gospel Centered Giving is a Response to the Gospel.

Gospel Giving: A Response to the Gospel

Everybody has a reputation.

Individuals have reputations, organizations have reputations, and that includes churches.

And when it came to the Philippian church, they had a strong reputation of generosity.

Look at vs. 15

Philippians 4:15 “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.”

And again in Philippians 4:16 “Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.”

This was a giving church!

But did you notice when this generosity began!?

Look at vs. 15, “in the beginning of the Gospel”, when Paul had left Macedonia.

Paul was probably only in Philippi for at most, 3 months, when he planted the church there. And I’m sure he wanted to stay longer, but after being beaten and arrested, he was eventually kicked out by the authorities and were forced to go toward Thessalonica. This is all in Acts 16.

So only 3 months old, in the Lord, but already they were financially giving.

And the only thing that can explain that level of commitment is that the Gospel had radically altered their lives.

It was so good, they wanted to respond by giving.

Church, giving is always a sign of a regenerate heart.

Like little Zaccheaus.

We all know he was a wee little man, and let me go ahead and tell you to save your jokes okay…

But after Zaccheaus encountered Jesus Christ, his reputation was no longer linked to his height, but to the size of his generosity!

After he was saved by the Gospel, his salvation was immediately evidenced in his giving.

He told Jesus, I’ll return all the overages I’ve collected. All the fraud I’ve facilitated, I’ll go back and cover. But not only that he said, I’ll even restore it 4 fold!

You see like Zacchaues, the men and women in Philippi had been gripped by the Gospel.

And When the Gospel grips a heart, it also grips the wallet.

When you become entrhalled by the immeasureable value of the gift God has given you in Christ, you’ll mimic our generous God with generosity yourself.

As you become more aware of the eternality of your salvation, your hands will loosen on what is temporal, and you’ll seek to invest in what matters.

The Gospel had powerfully impacted the church, and although 3 months in, they gave in response.

And notice that Paul calls their financial support, the ministry of giving and receiving.”

Heres how it works.

Paul gave the Gospel----- the church received the Gospel. So then,

The church gives money to Paul--- Paul receives money from the church.

So that Paul can give the gospel to more and more… who receive.

And you would think this would be common for Paul’s churches, but he actually said they were the only church that responded to the Gospel like this.

All the others, unfortunately adopted the all too prevalent consumer mindset.

Believing that the christian faith simply exists to be consumed.

That the grace of the Gospel should simply be accepted and received.

And you’re not wrong, just incomplete.

We receive, but we respond… and part of that response is in giving.

So That’s principle #1. Gospel Giving is a Response to the Gospel.

But the second Principle is that Gospel Giving Advances the Gospel.

Gospel Giving: Advances the Gospel

The idea here is to Pay it Forward.

When something deeply impacts you, and you believe in its impact, you tend to want others to experience it.

And this is what Paul alludes to from verses 15-17.

Philippians 4:15 “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.”

Here Paul says, that through their giving they entered into Partnership.

Paul frequently refered to this church as his partner. Specifically a partner in the gospel.

Philippians 1:5 “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

And here’s how the partnership worked.

Paul did the work of ministry, and the Philippian church prayed & provided for it!

And this was huge, because that meant Paul could spend more time in these varying cities giving his full attention and time to gospel advancement, instead of spending 40 hours a week working a job.

Many try and argue that Paul wasn’t a fan of financial support, but that’s not true at all.

He taught that it’s proper for a man who labors in the gospel to receive his support from the gospel (1 Cor 9; 1 Timothy 5:17-18), but for the sake of avoiding the slanderous accusation that he was only preaching the gospel and building his ministry for the sake of money, he chose not to receive support from a new church. Instead he would support himself by making tents.

But if the funds came from another church outside the area, he’d stop making tents and devote himself to full-time gospel advancing ministry.

Without the Philippian giving, he wouldn’t be as free to advance the Gospel.

Church, this should be a strong motivation for why we give, because we want people to know Christ, and grow in their relationship with Him.

Because we want more and more people in the community of Richmond Hill to hear the Gospel… we give.

We want more and more families equipped to disciple their children… so we give.

We want more and more healthy marriages so that marraiges can fulfill their purpose of portraying their God… so we give.

We want more women considering abortion to hear the Gospel, so we give…

We want more churches planted throughout the coastal empire… so we give.

We want more missionaries sent… so we give.

We want to give as much as it takes to advance the Gospel.

There is no sacrfice too big if it results in even 1 person coming to faith in Christ.

So give! Give to advance the Gospel!

But what’s incredible about giving for this means, is that the BIBLE promises a sure Return on your Investment.

If you give, out a response to the Gospel for the advancement of the Gospel, you’re investment will always accure interest!

Look at Philippians 4:17 “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.”

Concerning this verse, American Theologian Dwight Pentecost writes, “This is laying up treasure in heaven. When we give to the Lord’s work, it’s like depositing money in God’s bank and that money is going to draw interest in the salvation of souls.

And if you sow sparingly, you will reap spariningk but if you sow bountifully , you will also reap bountifully.

What this means practically is that you partner with this church, CBC Richmond Hill, and give, as you have decided in your heart, that anything that the Lord allows our staff or ministries to accomplish, you share in that.

It means when you stand before Christ, you will be rewarded for the fruit that comes from this church.

Even though the Philippians never traveled with Paul, preached with Paul, or were imprisoned with Paul.

Through their giving they were reaping eternal interest in Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome.

As commentator Kent Hughes wrote, “The only money that we will ever see again is that which we give away for the advance of the Gospel.”

Gospel Giving Advances the Gospel.

But Princple #3, Gospel Giving is an Act of Worship

Gospel Giving: An Act of Worship

Gospel Giving isn’t just pragmatic. It doesn’t just accomplish the purpose of Gospel advancement, but at its core its an act of worship in which God takes pleasure.

God delights in the generous giving of his people.

Philippians 4:18 “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.”

Paul calls their financial provision, a “fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.”

Fragrant Offering is the language of the Old Testament Sacrifical means of Worship.

Under the Old Testament Law a would be worshipper would first and foremost offer a “sin offering” either in the form of a lamb or a bull.

And the blood of that lamb would cover the sin of the worshipper.

And in response to the great forgiveness and atonement the blood of the lamb achieved, the worshipper would CHOOSE TO offer a second offering.

A Freewill offering!

Maybe it was grain, maybe it was another animal, but they would lay it on the alter and the fire of the alter would cook it and roast it and a sumptous aroma would rise to God as an expression of gatitude, and praise for the forgivness just received.

It was a sacrifice of Worship.

And here Paul is saying the same!

The Philippians understood the Gospel.

That there were never enough lambs or bulls to fully cleanse those who seek to draw near to God.

The gap is too great.

Chasm is too far.

But praise be to God, that by His Grace he choose to cross it for us. And instead of us putting an acceptable sacrifice on the alter, he laid one down on our behalf.

His one and only Son, who offered for all time a single sacrifice for our sins.

So that whoever receives the payment of the blood from the Lamb of God can now with full assurance draw near in worship to the Presence of God.

And in response to that Good News… we give. as an expression of our gratitude.

As an act of worship.

A way of saying to God, thank you! Thank you for the new life I have in Christ. For the great provision you made for me in Christ. For the incredible generosity you showed in the giving of Christ!

But just as in the Old Testament, it isn’t simply the act that makes it acceptable or pleasing to God.

The people of Israel were often condemned for just going through the motions.

They presented their sacrifciecs, but often God rejected it… why!?

Because they had no desire to actually do God’s will.

They just wanted to cover their bases. Go through the motions, and as Jesus said, “They honor me with their mouths, but their hearts are far from me.”

So don’t leave here thinking… okay if i just give then God will be pleased.

No, you’ve missed the point.

2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

God is only delighted, when your giving reflects your heart of gratitude for the Gospel.

Gospel Giving is an Act of Worship.

Conclusion

So Paul in way of conclusion, Paul tells the Philippian church… I don’t need your gift. And I don’t seek your gift.

But he’ wants to ensure them that their gift is still very much God honoring.

It’s driven by a Response to the Gospel.

For the Advancement of the Gospel.

And is an Act of Worship to the God of the Gospel.

And so he closes, Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

you can never outgive God church.

And as you practice Gospel Giving, He promises to supply every one of your needs in Christ.

Not wants. But needs.

So If you’re not giving, or if you’re not giving according to your means… I pray today hits home, and you begin in this wonderful blessing of Gospel Giving.

Philippians 4:17 ESV

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

Let’s pray.