Together for the Gospel

THIS PASSAGE IS NOT ABOUT MONEY!

DIRECTION: It takes community to spread the gospel.

Introduction: Partner Up. Depending on what kind of person you are, these words could either bring joy to your middle school life and strike fear in your heart.

Some of us like working with other people. Others just like working alone.

Now the right partner can make everything so much easier. The wrong partner can make the work twice as hard.

When we think about the church, we know that the task we are given is really hard. And it can sometimes feel like we are doing it on our own. And the partners in the church (other Christians) can sometimes make it harder. But let’s not forget that there is a whole spiritual war that is going on around us.

Richard Lovelace wrote this profound statement about the impact of bad partners coupled with demonic activity.

“Demonic agents italicize the defects of Christians and the churches in the minds of unbelievers and cause true Christianity to be branded with the image of its own worst exemplars or to be totally confused with counterfeit religions. They are particularly active in dividing Christians from one another into parties, subtly reinforcing stereotypes in the minds of believers who are not on guard against this, magnifying weaknesses and minimizing virtues to produce divisive caricatures. Unless this stratagem is correctly discerned, Christians can waste a great deal of time buffeting one another in the dark instead of combining forces to face their common enemy.” (Richard Lovelace)

And this is exactly what is going on in the world around us. We are being divided by spiritual forces of darkness from partnering together to share the gospel.

We can’t let this happen.

There is too much at stake.

We must partner with Christians to take the gospel to the nations. Starting right here in Vallejo.

Transition to the Text: Turn with me in your Bibles to Philippians 4:10-20. Philippians is the accidental church. Started with 3 people. Yet perhaps no church was as close to Paul’s heart as this church and he wasn’t even there that long.

There is a no greater joy to a christian leader than to know that the church he loves is growing more and more transformed by Jesus. Not so he can say, look what I did, but look what God has done in the lives of people that have become so dear to me.

Transformational Principle: Some may go and some may stay: but working together, God is transforming the world through the power of the Gospel.

Read:

Philippians 4:10–20 ESV

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 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.

Transformational Principle: Some may go and some may stay: but working together, God is transforming the world through the power of the Gospel.

Transition: These are amazing words by a godly apostle. But they are even more amazing when we understand that Paul was in Prison for preaching the gospel. He was labeled a disturber of the peace. So what did he do in prison? He wrote letters to encourage churches and continued to share the gospel. I mean vs. 22, not particularly in our passage today, but is telling what Paul’s imprisonment has produced.

Philippians 4:22 ESV

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

If you don’t think that’s a slap in the face to the Roman empire, I don’t know what is. But it shows us:

1. It doesn’t take a lot to be on mission. (Philippians 4:10-13)

Explanation: In spite of what Paul is going through, he recognizes that all it takes is obedience to God’s call. Paul recognizes that God is using the Philippians to meet his needs so that he can spread the gospel.

He starts out with “I rejoiced.” Really? Paul is in prison and rejoicing. Let that sink in next time you are complain about something so small.

Paul’s calling is to important and his God is too big from him to let something as small as this imprisonment get in the way of the mission.

So it doesn’t even take freedom to do God’s will. It just takes a shift in our mentality.

While many of us would we be saying “wo is me!” And waiting for God to show up and get us out, Pauls shifts and says, “Alright I guess God is calling me to prison ministry.”

But this church is a huge encouragement to Paul and he is grateful that they are willing to help him.

Vs. 11-13 are often taken out of context and we apply them to our personal financial situation. They aren’t about your ability to pay your bills. These verses are about Paul’s ability to do the work that God has called him to do.

Which leads him to tell us the secret of facing plenty and hunger. Abundance and need. What is the secret.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” So many of us wait until God provides before we move. But Paul’s faith in God was so great that he was going to move expecting God to provide. I think more often than not God tells you to go without telling you how it will be provided for.

It’s all about faith. This is where the world’s ways again, are not like God’s ways.

We are entrusted with the greatest mission in the world. To take the name of Jesus to the world there is no greater calling. And yet we get so caught up in worrying how we are going to do it.

Believe me all it takes is faith working out in obedience. If you obey God in faith, do you really think he’s going to leave you hanging? He will meet your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Illustration:

Application: At North Hills we want to be about the advancement of the Gospel. So every year we budget money to go directly to missions. As a percentage and as specific amounts that go to missions. Additionally sponsor Lottie Moon Christmas offering, Dollar a Day to fund ministry.

But we want to partner with people as opposed to just giving money. We like 3 year partnerships where we commit to a partnership over a few years. We commit to praying. We commit to serving with them. We commit to encouragement and exhortation.

Never forget the power of prayer.

We partner with specific ministries in the Philippines and China. It’s always better to partner with worthy people and/or causes than to just give once with no partnership.

2. Small partnerships can make a big difference. (Philippians 4:14-18)

Explanation: Now Paul says even though he recognizes that God will provide for His needs, he commends them for sharing in his trouble. Now you might think that he’s saying, “I don’t need your help, but it’s nice of you to try.” But that’s not at all what he’s saying. In fact, he seems to be doubling down on the fact that God is using the Philippians to meet His needs. He goes so far as to say that their gifts are a “fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.” That’s a powerful statement.

Now these letters would have been circulated to the other churches in the area. So these words would have stung: “no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.”

And it wasn’t just a one time gift. Twice they supported him after he had left to go to Thessalonica. This was a partnership between the Philippians Church and the apostle Paul. And then Paul tells us that generosity if a mark of maturity in the church. Why? Because it is so easy to stay inwardly focused as we consider our own needs. Maturity means looking outward at the needs of God’s people. So a church that is generous produces fruit for the kingdom of God.

Not all of us can go on mission trips or be full time pastors or missionaries. Some people go while others stay at home, but when you, though you stay at home, support the work of God through gifts and offerings, it is a “fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.”

Now again, this isn’t an individual thing. Paul doesn’t write this letter to a private donor who decided to meet his needs. This is written to a church.

Remember last week we talked about this. God’s primary means of meeting the needs of his ministers and missionaries is the local church. These people pooled their money together to send Paul a gift. So that it came from the whole church and not just a few individuals.

And this small church made a huge difference in the ministry of Paul and gave him strength to keep on moving. Keep on sharing the gospel with the household of caesar. Sharing the gospel with the prison guards and fellow prisoners.

Illustration:

Application: We might think that our small contribution can’t make a difference. But I firmly believe that a smile can change the world. Just a small act of kindness can redirect a hurting person.

There are 2 partnerships on display here. The individual Christians partnered together as a local church and the church partnering with Paul. Both of these are extremely important.

I’m willing to bet that the gifts sent by this church didn’t amount to a whole lot. And my guess is that the largest part of the partnership was not money at all. It was prayer. It was the sending of Epaphroditus to be an encouragement. And there was also the gift. But it met Paul’s needs for the time being and made a huge difference and God used it to strengthen Paul to continue the mission.

Any Christ honoring, Bible believing church can truly change the world when they are walking in obedience and faith. It doesn’t take dramatic examples of extravagant generosity. It can be small meaningful thoughtful acts of kindness that God uses to change the world. Because let’s face it that just goes to show that God’s ways are not our ways.

God changes the world one small act of obedience at a time. Through prayer. Through encouragement. And yes, even through generosity.

3. God is faithful to meet our needs in the face of sacrifice. (Philippians 4:19-20)

Explanation: I think we need to constantly remind ourselves that this passage is not about money per se as much as it is about faithfulness to the gospel. When you are willing to sacrifice for the sake of the spread of the gospel, God will meet your needs. Notice that he doesn’t say your wants.

There is something called the prosperity gospel that tries to tell you that if you give to this ministry or that, God is obligated to make you rich. They might use this passage. but that’s not what this passage teaches. If you forgo your own needs to help someone who is actively spreading the gospel through missions work, God will supply for that need.

God is faithful to provide for the church to meet it’s own needs and the needs of others. But that’s where good stewardship comes in. We think about how the church can be generous for the sake of supporting gospel advancement.

I think it’s helpful to understand that Paul is writing this a church. And the needs are the collective needs of the church. God will provide for that church so long as it is following in obedience and faithfullness.

I think this is safe to say that God always provides for the needs of His mission.

God is not restricted on finances. God is not restricted on resources but God sometimes brings those resources from unusual places.

So at the same time lets not be picky about the way God meets those needs.

And sometimes rather than meeting a financial need, he sends an encouraging word that’s the greater need. Or an advocate. Or God sends someone to point us in a different direction. Don’t be so tied to your agenda that you fail to see that God is transforming your direction.

Illustration: A hurricane is coming and a man is prepping. He prays to God to save him. His neighbor comes by in a large truck and offers to help him evacuate. "No - God will save me!" he says. A while later the flood waters are rising. A boat comes by and offers to help. "No - God will save me!" the man says. The flood waters rise even more and the man is stranded on his roof. A rescue helicopter comes to get him. "I don't need any help - God will save me!" he says. Well, of course he dies. When he gets to the pearly gates he asks God: "Why didn't you save me?" God replies: "What are you talking about!? I sent you a truck, a boat, and a helicopter! You didn't take any of them!"

Application: I think one of the most important questions we need to constantly ask ourselves is “Do we actually trust God? Does our obedience come from faith.

Is our failure to act the result of fear?

Response: Are you together with us for the gospel?

Summation:

Transformational Principle: Some may Go and some may stay: but working together, God is transforming the world.

1. It doesn’t take a lot to be on mission. (Philippians 4:10-13)

2. Small partnerships can make a big difference. (Philippians 4:14-18)

3. God is faithful to meet our needs in the face of sacrifice. (Philippians 4:19)

One of my favorites stories of missionary partnership is that of William Carrey and his sister Polly. "While he labored in the distant land of India, back in England, William Carey had a sister whom he affectionately called Polly – Polly was bedridden and almost completely paralyzed for 52 years. William wrote to Polly all about the details of his struggle to create primers and dictionaries in the various Indian dialects, as well as the difficulty of figuring out how to get these books typed and printed. And with every letter from William that she received, Polly lifted these needs up before the Throne. Every day for 52 years, she faithfully prayed for her brother.

"Now I don’t have to tell you that really inspired me. There she is Polly for all intents and purposes a quadriplegic, unable to walk or use her hands. But that didn’t paralyze her prayer life. And, oh, were William Carey’s efforts blessed by God – not only was India reached for Christ, but what he did became a model for modern missionaries even to this day… all because a paralyzed woman prayed.

"A lot of people know about the work of William Carey, but not many people know about the sister behind the scenes whose prayers guaranteed the success of his efforts. Polly’s testimony tells me that the life of any Christian can have huge repercussions for the kingdom. Think of it: if God can use bedridden quadriplegics to open doors to the Gospel around the world, what can He do through your prayers?! Little wonder the Bible says, 'Pray without ceasing.' … for God knows what great things are accomplished when people pray."

So often we think of partnership as money. But there is power in prayer.

So when we think we have nothing to offer, remember that we can always pray.

Will you continue to join North Hills as we pray that God will bless us abundantly as we share the Gospel with the nations.

Let’s pray.