Philippians Sermon Notes Week 12
Thoughts
Intro’s:
Timeline
The early days in Macedonia had been difficult. Paul suffered physically in Philippi. In Thessalonica his work caused an uproar (1 Thess 2:9), which resulted in his departing the city (Acts 17:5–9). These difficulties were only external. Perhaps the greatest difficulty was that the other churches failed to help him. In this, Philippi was different! From the very first it supported his work, evidencing the genuineness of salvation and love for Paul.
The Philippians had generously supplemented the income Paul earned in the workshop during his attempts to establish other churches both in Macedonia (4:15–16) and Achaia (2 Cor. 11:7–9). Perhaps because of their poverty (2 Cor. 8:1–2), however, they had not been able to help Paul in this way recently. Thus Paul rejoices “greatly” that the opportunity to show their concern for him has returned.
Acts 16:6-40 “The Macedonian Call”
Philippi
Thessalonica
Berea - Acts 17:10
2 Cor 8-9
Paul had developed a comprehensive theology of stewardship. Its most thorough statement occurs in 2 Cor 8–9, where he solicited support for a famine relief offering. He stated that the Macedonians led the way in giving, and most likely the primary church to give was Philippi (2 Cor 8:1–5). Their giving was exemplary because they gave out of “rock-bottom poverty.” Their contribution was a “fragrant offering” to God because of its sacrifice, its Christian motivation, and its significance to the spread of the gospel.
Themes
Three Conversions Take Place
Understanding Giving
When he stated that other churches did not support him, he used the common word for “fellowship” (koinōneō) which so characterizes this book. Subtly and without complaining, Paul pointed out that others had received but not given. They had a one-way relationship in the gospel.
Paul expected rejection and loneliness in his work; it came as no surprise. He was, however, troubled for two reasons. First, when they received they had a responsibility to share. Second, they missed the spiritual blessings that came from giving. The Philippians understood both principles and acted on them. That brought joy to Paul’s heart.
They tell us first that our financial support of the church’s mission is at least as important for our own spiritual development as for any good that it might do those to whom we give.
God will meet your needs
The second benefit to the believers was that they would experience God’s provision. Just as God had met Paul’s needs in the work of the gospel, so God would meet their needs. The context of this promise deserves careful attention. Paul spoke to those who actively supported the work of the Lord. His statement of 4:15 indicates what he meant: God meets the needs of those who give to him. In the context of ministering being ministered to occurs.
Prosperity Gospel
Both claims take the initiative in blessing his people away from God and put it in human hands, for both imply that God can be manipulated. According to one view, our hard work forces God’s hand; according to the other, the mantra-like invocation of biblical words wrenched from their contexts and laden with special materialistic meaning sets in motion a divine law as impersonal as the law of gravity.
The Remedy of Giving
In Philippians 4:10–20 Paul and the Philippians supply the antidote. Both are detached from the money they own—Paul by refusing to find contentment in the Philippians’ gift, and the Philippians by being willing to give it. Paul’s contentment rests in the advancement of the gospel, and so he is joyful despite the physical deprivations of prison and the emotional struggles of opposition from fellow believers. The Philippians’ monetary gift will help to alleviate his physical distress, and the presence of another friendly face in the form of Epaphroditus is undoubtedly an emotional comfort, but Paul can do without both; and if the gospel’s purposes will be advanced by sending Epaphroditus back, Paul is willing to do so
And so it is with us. As Richard Foster has said, anyone with enough money to buy a book is wealthy relative to the rest of the world. Christians who live in the West, particularly Christians who live in North America, are especially wealthy. Yet we often accrue our wealth unreflectively, never imagining that we have invited into our homes and lives a powerful force for evil. We need to remind ourselves that wealth can deceive us into dishonest dealings with others and, even worse, into thinking that we are wealthy because we are good.
The most powerful antidote to these deceptions is to give generously from our wealth to those who have need, especially, as Paul would say, to those who are of the household of faith (Gal. 6:10). In this way we provide equality among God’s people (2 Cor. 8:13–15) and begin to view ourselves as the channel of God’s blessing to others, rather than as the recipients of payment we have earned. This will in turn serve as a powerful reminder of a principle that runs like a thread throughout Philippians, and indeed through all of Paul’s writings. It is perhaps best expressed in Romans 11:35–36:
Verses
Philippians 4:17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account.
The Greek is graphic. “Gifts” is really τὸ δόμα, “the gift.” It stressed the giving/receiving aspect. It is contrasted with another articular expression τὸν καρπόν, “the fruit.”
Paul commended them because their gifts were an investment. Financial terms dominate this passage. The gifts were an investment in the work of God and in their future.
Paul saw beyond the physical act to the spiritual transactions taking place. Even in acknowledging their support, his servant attitude surfaced. He thought of their growth and blessings.
Philippians 4:18 But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
He speaks in banking terms of sending them a receipt for the gifts they sent him through Epaphroditus, duly marked by him “paid in full.”