A Fond Farewell: Pleasing to God and Fullness of Blessing

In this fond farewell of the Apostle he communicates to the Philippians, that God is pleased with your giving for the cause of Christ, and God will provide for all your needs by the grace of Christ.

Just as you can be content in Christ Jesus, just as you can do all things in Christ, so shall you be supplied in him with all things needful.

As we mentioned last time, Paul in verses 14-17 states his gratitude in very large language. But in verse 17, he reminds them again of his sufficiency. Not self sufficiency, but sufficient in Christ.

He says:

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.”

Notice the emphasis on what he does seek. Seek is used twice here to show that. “I seek not”, “but I seek”. I’m not after the gift is what he’s saying, but the giver. It is you who’s benefit and blessing I seek in receiving this gift, its fruit that abounds to your account, and its all to the glory of God verse 20. Pauls thought and life as we’ve seen in this epistle are constantly going outward. Toward God and neighbor.

And it’s important to consider, when does the fruit from this account come to them? It’s a business metaphor, communicating a reward of some sort, is it a current blessing, a current account they can tap into? or a future account and future reward at the parousia? Or is it both?

Listen to one comm: it is unnecessary to choose between a future reward and a present recompense. The picture painted by the accounting metaphor is of compound interest that accumulates all the time until the last day. The apostle has employed this commercial language to show that he has set his heart on an ongoing, permanent gain for the Philippians in the spiritual realm.(Eph 1.) The advantage (fruit) that accrues to them as a result of their generous giving is God's blessing in their lives by which they continually grow in the graces of Christ until the parousia.

Note also, The fruit, and fullness, and blessing promised here are not temporal prosperity(though temporal needs are promised) . Do you see the distinction between this kind of giving thats followed by spiritual blessing, and on the other hand that preached by the prosperity gospel. This kind of giving, is guaranteed to be followed by spiritual blessings, it may or may not be followed by temporal blessings. As we’ll see, the needs of those who give will be met, but there is no promise of anything beyond that. The Christian is content to abound in Spirit wrought blessings in Christ, while talking whatever the Lord gives by way of temporal blessing. This in one of many examples that repudiate the gross error of PG.

Paul communicates just this(that its not about temporal prosperity), while imprisoned, after receiving the gift. Which was probably some money and food.

18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

This is one of our points to this fond farewell. God is pleased with you in this way Philippians. There are many things in you that need to change, but I want you to take this with you as a last word. What you’ve done for me in this giving, is acceptable to your heavenly Father. It has risen to his nostrils and it is a sweet smelling aroma. This is what any self-sacrificial work done in Christ, done in faith by the Spirit. This is what it is to God, a sacrifice that rises all the way up to God. All good work done in faith is pleasing to God. And it is the offering, but more important, the offerer that is pleasing here. Or to think of it this way, he accepts the gift, because he has already accepted the persons. Because you are in my Son your gift in faith is acceptable to me, and on no other terms. In fact, the death of Christ is described just in this way, (pleasing, sweet smelling aroma).

In not considering your own needs above mine, in putting the flesh under, mortifying it, you are showing forth the death of Christ in your own life. This is a fellowship in his death. That’s why it’s sweet smelling and pleasing! You haven’t done what the world does in using every dollar to either fill its lusts or to a means of boastful pride.

All this is only done in union with Christ. The Lord had respect unto Able( because he believed in Christ) and his offering(because it was offered in faith). Give out of the abundance of what God has given you. Be sure that you search your own heart before you give of your time and finances. God loves a cheerful giver.

It is pleasing to him, Point 2) and the same shall supply all your needs.

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Though you have given, even to the point were it may hurt—remember, they gave out of their poverty. Once and again. On more than one occasion—though they gave out of poverty, God will supply all your need. You have supplied for me, and I am abundant and filled. You will be abundantly filled and supplied for as well. It’s obvious that its not their wants, our wants are often crossed with God’s good and wise provision for what he knows we need. Sometimes what we need most is not to have this or that……

Look at this passage which is really an extended comment on our verse and supports the spiritual nature of the blessings:

2 Corinthians 9:8–11 “8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.”

They truly had needs. That he has to mention that there needs would be met implies that they had needs to be met. They were needy. We see here that giving that exalts God(as they have done), is giving that hurts. Do we give till it hurts? Not irresponsibly, but do you adjust all other things around what you give to the Church of the Lord Jesus both in terms of your time and finances. Repeat. Are you filling up all your pleasures, and then giving whats leftover? or do you give first and then let all the other good things the Lord may supply come what may? The Christian giving which please God is giving that hurts, anything else is not pleasing. Today, we and so many I believe give what is convenient. Think of the Lords day. Often, the time we give to God is adjusted around sports or family, etc., rather than Jesus and the Church he loves and has purchased with his own precious blood. I am speaking here of habits not special occasions. That ought not to be. Our habit, our pattern ought to be to give to God first place, to Christ and the Church he is building first place, to the Spirit in-dwelt temple of God—which is both a you and a we—-inseparable really, first place. Give to God first.

And God invites the believer to test him in this? In Mal 3. The Lord tells Israel that they have robbed him by not giving. And then he says this:

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

That there may be food in My house,

And try(test) Me now in this,”

Says the LORD of hosts,

“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven(spiritual blessing)

And pour out for you such blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mal 3:10.

I think perhaps this is the only time the Lord invites us to test him. He is saying, can you be more generous than me? Repeat. I give from inexhaustible fulness. Go ahead and try! The problem is we really don’t believe that he is that generous. We’ve believed the lie told in the garden.

But just as Malichai above, this is what God is telling us in this text. I will supply abundantly for those who sacrifice their time and money for the cause of Christ and his gospel.

He will supply all your need. The Lord is my Shepherd, I will lack nothing.

David Strain: Get a hold of these two truths, brothers and sisters: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! God shall supply all our needs by Christ Jesus!" Get hold of them and see if they do not cut the chains that bind you to materialism and greed, and set you free to be radically, sacrificially generous!

This is attractive. This is why the gospel had broken into the most hostile portions of that area. Even into Caesars household. If Christians aren’t behaving like Christians in self-sacrificial giving, why would anyone want to come see what your about.

David Strain: “….let me tell you that that is what is really at stake here. We can preach the gospel all we like, but if our lives are dissatisfied and discontented because they are idolatrously addicted to worldly pleasures, and our giving is miserly and slight because we are self-reliant rather than God-dependent, we will fatally undermine our words with our lives. But if we really grasped the radical power of the gospel to set us free from the materialistic lies of our culture, we would be deeply content and sacrificially generous, and the good news would spread with great power.”

The Philippians were giving in this way, and the last word for them is that God is pleased with you in this way. Remember, the Philippians are still messed up in many ways, just as we are. They have issues of unity, issues of love and peace inside the body. They were proud and full of self-interest. But the last word is one of God’s pleasure and grace to them. It is a fond farewell.

“in glory by Christ”

But 'lf’(fruit), is not to be limited to the future reward. It includes, with

that, all that supply which God so richly imparts in this life to those who

are in Christ. (See Jn. i. 16; I Cor. i. 5; Eph. iii. 16-20; Col. ii. IO.)

He is saying, It will be supplied to you in such a glorious way by Christ Jesus. You will marvel, be astonished, you will see that all glory is to God our Father

20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

And it is because God will supply in such a glorious way in Christ. From his fullness, that the apostle turns all glory to redound to God. Soli deo gloria. What else would the believer do when he realizes that “God supplies not grudgingly or with a pittance, but with divine generosity.” And to us as children from our heavenly Father.

Listen to Eadie comment on the fulness form which we receive:

What a glorious promise for the apostle to make on God's behalf to them!—a perfect supply for every want of body or soul, for time or eternity, for earth or heaven. If man is but a mass of wants, wants for this world and wants for the world to come, and if God alone can supply them, what confidence should not such a pledge produce? Is it physical fare?—He heareth " the young ravens" when they cry. Is it the forgiveness of sin?—He "delighteth in mercy." Is it purification of soul ?— His Spirit produces His own image. Is it courage?-He is “Jehovah-Nissi.(“The Lord is my banner) Is it enlightenment?-His words are, “I will instruct thee." Is it the hope of glory ?Then it is, “ Christ in you." Is it preparation for heaven?-He makes “ us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." Is it contentment in any circumstance ?—All things may be done in the strength of Christ.

Glory to God indeed!

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.

His salutation includes the entire congregation. He had called them to unity and impartiality, and so he concludes with a salute to them all. Rich or poor, weak or strong, whatever social standing. All whom he once again names as those holy ones, set apart In Christ. You all need to hear that!

22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

We don’t pass by to quickly the mention of Caesar’s household. Those who once vowed Caesar is Lord, have now confessed Jesus as Lord. The gospel has turned the world upside down and even Caesar’s own household in one sense has been turned upside down. What an encouragement again for those Philippians facing persecution to know that the Lord has worked in such a way to make foolish the wisdom of the world.

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

You see how we begin with grace “2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. “and we end with grace. Quote ^

We are saved by grace, and preserved by grace. It’s all of grace— Spurgeon title.

Conclude: God is pleased with your service towards him, your service “in the Lord” as he has so often said, your service in Christ is pleasing, and your continuance in it will be by the grace of the same Lord. By union with the same Lord. Out of the same NC blessings purchased.

He is directing us to God. Don’t think for one moment that you are sufficient, your not. Positively, this is how God will richly supply you with all needful things, by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Your Savior, your anointed Prophet, Priest, and King, your infinite, independant, unchanging Lord. That’s what’s in a name. This simple benediction communicates all this. That Jesus has saved you and will save you, and he will do so through the exercise of his appointed offices that are now unending, and in and through divine power, the same power that raised Christ from the dead.

Lets pray!