A Pleasing Sacrifice

PITCH TESTIMONY NIGHT

TURN: PHIL. CH. 4:14-23....

--------------------

--------------------

Passage Reading

Philippians 4:14–23 (ESV)

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.

--------------------

---- OPEN in PRAYER ----

--------------------

Introduction: Wanting More??

· How many of you here today ever wish there was more time in a day or in a week?

PERSONALLY: MANY DAYS, GET BEHIND—WISHING for MORE TIME...

TRUTH: MORE TIME = PROBABLY MORE STUFF to FILL

MORE TIME WOULDN’T HELP

---------

(T) Beyond time, I’d bet most people feel this way about money too.

MORE TIME == FILLED W/ MORE STUFF

MORE MONEY = PROBABLY SPEND MORE...

DREAM:

FINALLY SAVING for RETIREMENT

PAYING OFF HOUSE

GOING on VACATION.

OFTEN TRUTH:

LIFESTYLE CREEP

or $5 EGGS!

(Q) Why does this matter?

GOD DESIRES HIS PEOPLE to BE GOOD STEWARDS of HIS BLESSINGS in THEIR LIVES...

TIME

MONEY

POSSESSIONS

ETC

PART of GOOD FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP = GENEROSITY

------------------

Need:

TEXT WILL CHALLENGE us ON GIVING

WHEN WE DON’T “HAVE” ENOUGH—ONE of the FIRST THINGS to GO = GENEROSITY....

RUN OUT of MONEY—NONE LEFT to GIVE

PERHAPS: VIEWING from BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW—THIS WOULD CHANGE.

UNPOPULAR TOPIC: BUT PAUL BRINGS it UP,, NOT ME.

(T) But before we dive in to this week’s text, I want to offer a QUICK RECAP to bring everyone up to speed, and THIS ONE is PRETTY NECESSARY

🐢🐢🐢 --- 35 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Recap: “The Secret of Contentment”

Last Wk: PAUL = TRANSITIONING to CLOSE

V10-20 = ADDRESSING PHILIPPIANS’ GIFT

---------

PHILIPPIANS SENT EPAPHRODITUS W/ MATERIAL PROVISION for APOSTLE PAUL in JAIL...

Last Wk:

PAUL POINTED OUT— HE WAS DOING OKAY

**NOT BECAUSE HE HAD A LOT...

BUT BECAUSE HE’D LEARNED to BE CONTENT**

---------

SECRET of BEING CONTENT = “I CAN DO ALL THINGS”

MEANING: CHRIST WILL SUSTAIN ME THROUGH EVERY SEASON of LIFE

HE’LL SUSTAIN ME W/ LITTLE, or A LOT.

IN HUNGER,, OR FULLNESS

PLENTY,,, OR WANT...

---------

(T) NOW,, WE’RE GOING to SEE PAUL ISSUE THANKS...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS 14-16

The apostle Paul writes,

🐢🐢🐢 --- 33 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Preaching Passage: Phil. 4:14-23 ESV

Thought 1: The Philippians’ Generosity (v14-16)

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.

Last Wk: PAUL OUTLINING CONTENTMENT...

THIS WK: PAUL = TRULY GRATEFUL....

(V14) IT WAS GOOD/KIND of THEM to HELP HIM...

· One scholar has said, “His contentment without the Philippians’ support

did not diminish his commendation for their support.”[1]

---------

(V15-16) TRULY— PHILIPPIANS = ONLY DISTINGUISHED CONGREGATION in GIVING!

PAUL = TENTMAKER BY TRADE

GOSPEL MINISTRY = RIGHTFULLY PAID ENDEAVOR—BUT...PAUL CHOSE to SUPPORT HIMSELF

PHILIPPIANS ALONE REGULARLY PARTNERED W/ HIM!

---------

HE REFERENCES “BEGINNING of GOSPEL” = WHEN THEIR CHURCH WAS STARTED

ON 2ND MISSIONARY JOURNEY

THEY SUPPORTED HIM,, NOT JUST WHEN HE WAS THERE,,

BUT EVEN in NEIGHBORING TOWNS,,

AND NOW in JAIL!

(T) But Paul wants to be so CAREFUL to DISTINGUISH WHY he CELEBRATES their GIVING,

LOOK W/ ME @ VS 17-18....

🐢🐢🐢 --- 29 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Thought 2: The Philippians’ Worship (v17-18)

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.

PAUL’S REASON for CELEBRATING THEIR GIVING:

NOT WHAT it DOES FOR HIM

WHAT it DOES FOR THEM (BEFORE GOD)

(V17) HE ISN’T SEEKING GIFTS— BUT CELEBRATING THIS SPIRITUAL FRUIT ((GENEROSITY))

---------

CHURCH… MANY “SO-CALLED” PREACHERS— GET RICH OFF BACKS of POOR PEOPLE.

BEGGING for MONEY

HAVE a PRIVATE JET

OFFERING FALSE PROMISES of WEALTH

ONLY THEY GET RICH

THEY’RE SEEKING the GIFTS...

LUSTING for WORLDLY RICHES...

PAUL = DIFFERENT. HE’S MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEIR GIVING DOES FOR THEM,, THAN WHAT IT DOES FOR HIM.

(V18) BESIDES,, HE’S NOW FULLY SUPPLIED & MORE!

---------

WHY DOES THEIR GIVING MATTER to GOD?

WHY is GENEROSITY = FRUIT INCREASING to THEIR CREDIT

**MONEY HAS BEEN & PROBABLY WILL ALWAYS BE ONE of the BIGGEST IDOLS of HUMAN HEART**

1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV)

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

**THIS WAS 2,000 YEARS AGO!**

!! A LUST for MONEY HAS BEEN a PROBLEM for MILLENNIA!!

----

GENEROSITY/GIVING BREAKS the IDOLATROUS GRIP THAT MONEY CAN HAVE on OUR HEARTS.

(Q) ANYONE ELSE RUN NUMBERS?? BUDGET, ETC.??

WITH X AMOUNT— I CAN DO THIS

THAT’S ME.

SHOCKER: WHEN YOU GIVE—YOU CAN NO LONGER SPEND on OTHER THINGS...

THAT’S GOOD for US SPIRITUALLY—IT COSTS US...

STORY: MAN DESIRING CHEAP WEDDING/RING?—AFTER PUTTING COST of WEDDING INTO INVESTMENT CALCULATOR.

**DO YOU LOVE HER ENOUGH to MISS OUT on THAT MONEY?**

GIVING to GOD—DO YOU LOVE GOD ENOUGH to MISS OUT on THAT MONEY?

---------

MONEY = FREQUENTLY an IDOL...

PEOPLE DON’T LIKE to HEAR IT TAUGHT ON

SOME RATHER HEAR a MESSAGE on SEX, POLITICS, or ANYTHING ELSE REALLY...

BENEFIT of EXPOS. PREACHING—NEXT PASSAGE DOES the TALKING!

---------

CHURCH....I’LL NEVER ASK YOU to DO SOMETHING I DON’T DO MYSELF ((ALBEIT IMPERFECTLY))

WE GIVE REGULARLY to CHURCH

WE GIVE in WAYS NO ONE KNOWS

HAVE a GENEROSITY LINE ITEM in BUDGET—FOR ADDITIONAL GIVING OUTSIDE the CHURCH.

ALWAYS GIVE GENEROUS TIPS

EVEN in my LAST POSITION—PRAYING ABOUT CASH-FLOWING SEMINARY—I GAVE to the CHURCH.

AS a PASTOR...I’LL NEVER ASK YOU to DO SOMETHING I DON’T DO MYSELF.

**IF YOU’VE BEEN to A CONGREGATIONAL MEETING YOU KNOW WE’RE DOING OKAY BUT WE AREN’T LOADED**

MAKE IT a PRIORITY

BECAUSE IT’S GOOD for ME.

IT BREAKS the IDOLATROUS GRIP THAT MONEY CAN HAVE…ON ME!

------------------

(v18) WHY DOES PAUL SAY IT’S “FRUIT”??

THEIR GIFTS AREN’T FOR HIM—THEY ARE GIFTS of WORSHIP to GOD.

PHILIPPIANS GAVE to PAUL...

BUT THEIR GIFTS to PAUL = GIFTS to GOD...

SUPPORTING GOSPEL-MINISTRY = ACT of WORSHIP.

---------

INCREDIBLE: PAUL USES SAME LANGUAGE USED in GREEK O.T. for OFFERINGS (BURNT,, PEACE,, GRAIN,, ETC..) to DESCRIBE THE PHILIPPIANS GIFTS....

LEVITICUS, EXODUS, NUMBERS:

FRAGRANT OFFERING, “PLEASING AROMA”

SACRIFICE,, ACCEPTABLE && PLEASING to God!!

YOUR MONETARY SACRIFICE = PLEASING AROMA to GOD.

AN ACT of WORSHIP

------------------

PAUL DOESN’T USE THIS to PRESSURE THEM

NOT “PROSPERITY GOSPEL”

THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL ONLY ENRICHES IT’S PREACHERS—DISGUSTING.

PAUL DOESN’T SEEK the GIFT--- BUT HE RECOGNIZES IT’S GOOD for THEM in THEIR FAITH-WALK to GIVE MONETARILY.

(T) BECAUSE THEIR GIFTS = GIFTS to GOD— WE’LL SEE THAT GOD RESPONDS:

🐢🐢🐢 --- 19 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Thought 3: God’s Provision (v19-20)

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.

PROMISE from GIVING:

BECAUSE— OFFERINGS AREN’T JUST FOR PAUL…BUT FOR GOD...

GOD RESPONDS.

ALMOST LIKE a THREE-WAY PARTNERSHIP.

GIVING = ACT of WORSHIP— GOD RESPONDS—PROMISING to MEET NEEDS...

---------

WE’VE BEEN FAITHFUL to GIVE—WE’VE NEVER BEEN in WANT.

INTERESTING PHENOMENON:

WHEN YOU GIVE FIRST— YOU HAVE ENOUGH to GIVE & ENOUGH to LIVE ON.

WHEN YOU GIVE LAST— RARELY HAVE ENOUGH for LIVING & GIVING.

---------

ANOTHER TRUTH of GIVING: IT’S DONE in FAITH.

ACKNOWLEDGES GOD = MY PROVIDER

HE’LL MEET MY NEEDS.

**NOT WANTS**

**NOT EVEN JUSTIFIED WANTS**

BUT NEEDS = MET.

---------

GOD (BOLD) WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS—ACCORDING to HIS RICHES in GLORY.

HE’S the CREATOR,, HE OWNS EVERYTHING!

HE’LL NEVER BE BANKRUPT

HE’LL NEVER BE LATE on BILLS—HE HAS NO BILLS!

HE’LL NEVER SUFFER WANT

THIS GOD. WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS!!

SAME GOD:

PROVIDED MANNA in WILDERNESS

BROUGHT WATER FROM a ROCK

SEND BIRDS to FEED the PROPHET ELIJAH

FED 5,000 W/ BOY’S LUNCH

HE’LL TAKE CARE of YOU TOO.

---------

(V20) PAUL CONCLUDES, SECTION: GLORY to GOD… OUR FATHER.

THE AWESOME GOD

THE GOD WHO PROVIDES

THE GOD WHO is ALL-WONDERFUL

THE GOD WHO is WORTHY...

(T) NOW: PAUL = GOING to CLOSE LETTER W/ FINAL GREETINGS

🐢🐢🐢 --- 16 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Thought 4: Final Greetings (v21-23)

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.

(T) And so, we should learn from this passage today, the idea that,

Homiletical Idea:

· Giving is an act of worship to the God who has promised to meet our needs.

🐢🐢🐢 --- 15 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Gospel: God is a Giving God

SEEM cliché, but GIVING = ACT of WORSHIP

PRAISE & WORSHIP GOD —

WHO HE IS…

WHAT HE’S DONE.

---------

CONSIDER: CHRISTIAN, WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU....

CHURCH— OUR GOD is a GIVING-GOD.

OUR GOD is a GENEROUS GOD....

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

HE SO LOVED— THAT HE GAVE.

HE LOVED in this WAY— HE GAVE

GOD’S LOVE WASN’T MERELY PHILOSOPHICAL or THEORETICAL...

GOD’S LOVE WAS REALIZED.

GOD’S LOVE WAS PROVEN.

GOD’S LOVE WAS ACTED UPON.

------------------

THERE is NO GREATER GIVING—THAN WHAT GOD GAVE US.

THE MOST COSTLY OFFERING

HE GAVE HIS ONLY, UNIQUE, SPECIAL, SON...

HE GAVE HIS SON— SO THAT WE MIGHT BE FORGIVEN

BY a FREE GIFT of GRACE—THAT DOESN’T COST US ANYTHING.

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

SALVATION ISN’T WAGES for WORK DONE

BUT a FREE GIFT IN SPITE of OUR EVIL WORKS...

THAT’S WHY GOD GAVE HIS SON

---------

CALL: IF YOU’RE HERE TODAY & YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS CHRIST as SAVIOR & LORD...

HAVEN’T RECEIVED GIFT of ETERNAL LIFE

THROUGH FAITH in CHRIST YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY

I’D LOVE to SPEAK W/ YOU AFTER SERVICE...

------------------

(T) FOR THOSE FORGIVEN…

OFFER a CHALLENGE...

🐢🐢🐢 --- 8 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

App: Financial Giving

IF YOU’RE a FORGIVEN BELIEVER in JESUS CHRIST...

ONE AREA of WORSHIP— SHOULD BE a REGULAR PART of your LIFE— SHOULD BE GIVING.

Consider:

GOD’S GENEROSITY TOWARDS US = BASIS of OUR GENEROSITY for HIM

HIS LOVE for US = BASIS of OUR LOVE FOR HIM

HIS KINDNESS towards US = BASIS of OUR KINDNESS to HIM...

------------------

TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTE HERE: THANK YOU.

WITHOUT YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS:

ME & MY FAMILY WOULDN’T BE HERE

IT’D BE COLD in HERE

IT’D BE DARK

NO SPECIAL EVENTS

REF: VIC @ BOARD MEETING—COUNTING DOWN the DAYS TILL CHURCH CLOSED IT’S DOORS...

NEXT YEAR— G.C. CELEBRATES 75 YEARS!! —SERVING THIS COMMUNITY W/ GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST..

**THIS WOULDN’T BE,, WITHOUT PEOPLE WHO GIVE**

------------------

GIVING FINANCIALLY COSTS US.

GIVING FINANCIALLY—BREAKS IDOLATROUS GRIP OF MONEY...

**YOU CAN’T LOVE BOTH GOD & MONEY**

The Lord Jesus once said, “19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

§ I love how one scholar has said, “Our wallets are windows into our worship”[2]

WHAT WE SPEND MONEY ON—SHOWS WHAT WE VALUE.

SPENDING HABITS REFLECT VALUES...

---------

GIVING = SPIRITUAL VALUE—ULTIMATELY IT’S GIVING to GOD.

GIVING SHOWS—MONEY ISN’T MY MASTER

GIVING = ACT of FAITH—TRUSTING GOD to MEET NEEDS.

---------

PEOPLE MIGHT ASK— HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE?

PERCENTAGE?

AMOUNT?

ANY GUIDELINES??

------------------

I HOLD to the CONCLUSION THAT NO AMOUNT = STANDARD in NEW TESTAMENT.

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

AS SUCH— I DON’T BELIEVE ANY PASSAGE in N.T. SAYS YOU SHOULD GIVE a TITHE— 10 PERCENT.

PAUL COULD’VE JUST SAID THAT.

---------

10% MIGHT BE a GOOD NUMBER to SHOOT FOR.

FOR SOME IT MIGHT BE TOO MUCH

FOR SOME IT MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH

EARLY CHURCH—SELLING PROPERTY & GIVING ALL

WIDOW’S 2 MITES = GREATER THAN ALL,, BECAUSE SHE GAVE ALL.

---------

SOME THOUGHTS:

IF YOU DON’T GIVE AT ALL— GIVE SOME.

IF YOU GIVE RANDOMLY — GIVE CONSISTENTLY

IF YOU GIVE LITTLE— MAYBE INCREASE

**I THINK GOD is MORE CONCERNED WITH the STATUS of YOUR HEART,, THAN the EXACT AMOUNT**

AGAIN,, THANK YOU to ALL WHO GIVE.

ACCORDING to SCRIPTURE:

FINANCIAL GIFTS = OFFERINGS to GOD

SWEET-SMELLING AROMA...

SACRIFICE—PLEASING & ACCEPTABLE

GOD is PLEASED WHEN YOU GIVE.

Above all…if we serve a generous God, we ought to be a generous people, amen?

Close in Prayer