Philippians 4:14-20

Philippians 4:14 ESV

14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

Are you grateful for Tar Heel Baptist church?

We will see today that Paul is grateful for this young church.

We also see that the church in Philippi believed in supporting missionaries on the field.

Paul was a missionary on the field and this young church supported this missionary.

Philippians 4:14 ESV

14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

In Verse 13 Paul has just stated that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him

And in verse 14 says in light of that it was kind of you to share my trouble.

All we need is Christ to face the adversity of trouble. However, it is nice to have friends to go with you through trials.

If you live long enough you will face trials and obstacles. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to go through trials by myself.

Paul is writing to the church and he is talking of the church in this verse.

The church shared in his troubles.

Did you know that missionaries on the field face struggles. Did you know they face trials.

How missionaries have I talked to that felt alone on the mission field.

One of the things Fernando and Micheal have talked with me about is partnering with this missionary in Puerto Rico. I am going to be doing a facetime with him this week.

Our Sunday School class this morning has agreed to send 50% of our month offering to support this missionary.

We asked for a list of things the pastor family may miss and that we could supply to them.

As we support this missionary long term he will go through trials and one of the duties of our class will be to go through these trials with him.

The church entered into an arrangement of “giving and receiving”; the church gave materially to Paul, and received spiritually from the Lord.

We should share in the troubles those of us go through. We should pick up the load with them and help cary the burden with them.

The church entered into an arrangement of “giving and receiving”; the church gave materially to Paul, and received spiritually from the Lord.

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 98–99.We should share in the troubles those of us go through. We should pick up the load with them and help cary the burden with them.

The church that fails to share materially with others is poor.

It seems to me in our churches we forget this some times. We say a pray for them which is important. But how many times do we share in the trouble.

By the church of philippi giving to paul, they became partners with Paul. And anything Paul accomplished the church of Philippi would have helped in doing.

How do we at THBC become a world wide ministry. We partner with missionaries around the world.

We do a great job here at THBC. We take up love offerings, provide meals, go to appointments, one calls.

Philippians 4:15–18 ESV

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.

Philippians 4:15–18 ESV

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.

Acts 4:15–18 ESV

15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

Paul then commends this church for their support. He tells them that no one other than them partnered with him by giving.

These other churches had missed out on the blessing of helping missionaries who have needs. They had missed out on the blessing of having a stake in Paul’s ministry and the success of reaching all of Asia with the gospel.

It is important for us as a church to partner with missionaries on the field.

We do partner through giving to the CP. We partner through giving to annie Armstrong and by giving to Lottie.

the next step for us at THBC is to partner with local missionaries on the field that we can have long term partnerships with.

The church entered into an arrangement of “giving and receiving”; the church gave materially to Paul, and received spiritually from the Lord.

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 98–99.We should share in the troubles those of us go through. We should pick up the load with them and help cary the burden with them.

The church that fails to share materially with others is poor.

They did this more than once.

It was not a one time gift but a on going partnership. They continued to meet Paul’s needs.

Examples: Jackie, Dennis, meet the needs of others by giving your tithe.

They did this more than once.

In verse 16 Paul says you did them again.

When we meet the needs of others it should not be a one time thing. Like we helped you and now we wont do it again.

Notice in verse 17 Paul was not asking them for help. This young church gave it freely.

Because the church gave it increase their fruit.

In verse 18 Paul says because of you my need has been met

In verse 18 he called there gift a fragrant offering.

Fragrant gives the idea of smelling good.

It is an offering that please God.

It is the same language used for the offering Christ gave of Himself

Ephesians 5:2 ESV

2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians

Paul is saying it was well recieved.

In verse 18 he also mentions the gift as a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

This church had sacrificed.

Many don’t mind giving out of the abudance they have. Very few people will give to the point it becomes a sacrifice.

Notice that when we give sacrifical it is pleasing to God.

Paul gives a promise to the church that gives sacrificaly in verse 19

Philippians 4:19–20 ESV

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.

Philippians 4:19

Paul tells the young church that God will supply every need according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

Paul does not promise that he will give them all their wants. Paul promises that God will meet your needs when you give freely and sacrificliy

Notice how God meets your needs.

Your needs will be met from God riches which are found in the glory of Christ Jesus.

What is our ultimate need.

Salvation.

Then Paul finishes by saying all the glory goes to God forever and ever.

Paul didn’t praise the church of Philippi.

Paul gave the glory where it deserved to be and that is with Jesus.

May we give God the glory for what he has done.

Would someone like to share and give God glory for what he has done in your life.