Opening the Door for Missions Giving
Notes
Transcript
vs.10 - Paul - Thank you for your care
vs.14 - Communicate - not phone, email, text, Facebook message, messaging system, Twitter, or even verbally
vs.15 - communicated - giving and receiving
- the church gave - Paul received
- "beginning of the Gospel" - not when Christ died, buried, and rose again
- describing his 2nd missionary journey
- 4 missionary journeys - 3 different countries - 1 to Rome
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
- Paul westward journey
- wanted to go to Bithynia - east towards Asia
- HS said NO
- Paul was obedient and because he was obedient - we have the Gospel!
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
- Macedonian call
- THIS IS IN AN AREA LIKE ENGLAND - country geographical area - NOT A CITY
And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
- went to Philippi - where the people were
1st - Where is the Jewish synagogue
- 10 Hebrew families - they built a synagogue - minion
- if not 10, place of prayer - sabbath
And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
- Met a lady (gentile) named Lydia who was a seller of purple
- she had turned her back on her false gods and idols and started following the Jews and Jehovah
- HS was working on her heart BUT SHE STILL WASN'T SAVED
- THE ONLY WAY IS THROUGH JC
- Lydia was hungry for the Gospel- Paul led her to Christ AND her household - husband & children
- Paul imprisoned - Jailer - What must I do to be saved?
- Organised a church!!
- Truest form of mission's - establishing a local, NT assembly of believers - CHURCH!!
- Not wrong to support a ministry like an evangelist, projects (build a building, buy land, etc), Bible publishers, etc
- This church at Philippi was VERY dear to Paul
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
- Paul didn't stay at Philippi
- 3 weeks preached Christ
- saved, baptised, established a church
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
- Paul went to Berea
- NO BOOK TO BEREA
- no injustice to Scriptures by concluding that Paul did exactly what he had done in Philippi and Thessalonica
And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
- DEPARTS FROM MACEDONIA
- GOES TO A COUNTRY called ACHAIA
- A CITY IN ACHAIA called ATHENS
- didn't go well
- Athens was a centre of intellectualism
- humanistic
- Paul was an educated man
- taught at the feet of Gamalia
- best schools and universities
- Did not come with man's wisdom, BUT WITH CHRIST'S WISDOM
- few people converted
- DIDN'T QUIT
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
- Crispus - chief ruler
- dry season - I'm not going to quit - JUST STAY AT IT
- MANY of the CORINTHIANS
Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
- departed from Macedonia - ATHENS
-they gave to Paul
- 1st church
For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
- Thessalonica
- once and again
- "necessity" - necessary - needs
- family - name
Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
- FREELY - no offerings
- WAGES- chargeable to no man - didn't beg for money
- CHURCHES - more than 1 !!!!
- FROM MACEDONIA - supplied - needs
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
- fruit - saved, churches started, lives changed
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
- a sacrifice - equal sacrifice not equal gifts
- a sweet smell
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
- SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED - God supplies my needs that I created because of the sacrifice I have made in my life to meet the needs of a missionary
- this is a GREAT promise that we claim so often but the way to truly claim it is by giving to missions!
give - God give back - money
Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
