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Philippians 4:10-23
Last week, I consulted with Pastor Brad on the topic or passage of today’s sermon.
He suggested me to preach something controversial.
Well, I decided to teach on Philippians 4:10-23 because I have been going through Philippians in the Youth Sunday school, and we will be wrapping up the series today.
Speaking of controversy, I will have to give you a warning: it just so happens that the message is about money and giving.
Your heart might be racing and you’re trying to hide your wallet.
I do understand money is a sensitive topic and sometimes it is hard for preachers to address this subject matter on the pulpit lest the congregation accuses the pastor for wanting money from them.
However, as Christians, I hope talking about money is not something controversial or to be terrified because the Bible has much to say about money.
Let’s pray.
Introduction
The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions.
In the Gospels, and one out of ten verses deal directly with the subject of money.
Our Lord Jesus Christ talked much about money.
16 of the 38 parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions.
He also talked about the importance of giving.
He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
How much, how little, or how often you give to the church is none of my business.
That business is between you and God.
If you think I’m talking about you and you feel guilty about it, then perhaps the Holy Spirit is convicting you because I have no information of how much or how often you give, but God does!
You could give me a fake smile and I’ll probably just believe that you give regularly, but you cannot fool God.
Again, I chose this passage not because I want to talk about money, but because I want to be faithful in teaching through Philippians.
The benefit of going through a book in the Bible is that I am forced to address difficult and sensitive topics.
Context
Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians during the time when Paul was in prison at Rome.
He wrote the letter to the Christians at Philippi because of their partnership with Paul’s ministry, and this letter shows his joy to God for their partnership in the gospel.
So, today’s passage is actually Paul’s “thank-you note” to the Philippians and for their generosity in meeting his needs while he was in prison.
With the your Bible in hand, we will walk through Philippians 4:10-23 and we will learn eight lessons about faithful giving.
Lesson #1: Faithful Giving reveals our values (v.10-13)
Faithful Giving reveals our values (v.10-13)
Is it not true that how we spend our money, however little we have, still reveals what we value?
We show what we value with our wallets.
For the Philippians, they value Paul and his well-being.
The Philippians finally have the opportunity to show their love for Paul by sending him gifts through Epaphroditus.
We show what we value with our wallets.
For the Philippians, they value Paul and his well-being.
The Philippians finally have the opportunity to show their love for Paul by sending him gifts through Epaphroditus.
Epaphroditus was a messenger and minister of the church in Philippi.
He was the one who delivered the gifts to Paul.
In Philippians 2:27, Paul tells us that he was ill and almost died for carrying Paul’s gifts from the city of Philippi to Rome.
But praise God that He kept him alive.
The distance between Philippi and Rome is about 1300 km.
Paul commends Epaphroditus’ Christlikeness because he risked “his life to complete” the service on behalf of the Philippians.
In verse 10, Paul rejoices in the Lord because the Philippians have revived or renewed their concern for him.
Paul is not accusing them of not being concerned for him before.
They were concerned for Paul when he was experiencing persecution in prison.
They had not forgotten about him because they were praying for him.
From first day since they became Christians, the Philippians supported Paul in his gospel ministry.
However, there was a specific circumstance where they had no opportunity to help him.
How come the Philippians “had no opportunity” to help Paul?
Paul does not tell us why they had no opportunity.
I choose not to entertain various interpretations, but most commentators would agree that the circumstance remains a mystery.
Paul understands that whatever happened to the Philippians, it prevented them from supporting him.
He knows that the Philippians loved him.
So, the lack of support does not equate to decaying of friendship.
Even though they were not able to help him, Paul clarifies to the Philippians that his joy is not found in the satisfaction of financial needs or the generous gifts.
In verse 11, “Not that I am speaking of being in need.”
It may make Paul sound passive aggressive in making the Philippians feel guilty to give him gifts.
But, that’s not the case.
Paul understands their situation, and he assures them that he’s telling the Philippians pity him, and he assures them that he was not neglected.
During the time when the Philippians had no opportunity to help him, Paul learned the secret and art of contentment.
In verses 12-13, biblical contentment is not facing circumstance by our own innate strength nor by our self-sufficiency, but it is relying on God’s strength to face our various circumstances.
Paul is clearly saying that he is able to deal with all situations because of the powerful act of God who makes him sufficient.
Verse 13 is one of the most popular quoted verses in the Bible, but it is also one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible.
So, what does it mean?
It does not mean that a person would receive supernatural power to do all activities and achieve success in their work.
It seems that it is used before competing in sports.
So what does it mean?
Notice the phrase, “all things.”
“All things” is grammatically connected to the preceding verse: “in any and every circumstance.”
It is specifically talking about the fullness and hunger, abundance and lack in the midst of doing ministry.
He is able to handle these strikingly different circumstances through God who strengthens him when he’s experiencing weakness.
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So, our ability to be content does not arise from our own strengths, it is from God’s strength when we humble ourselves in weakness.
We do not need self-sufficiency; we need God-sufficiency.
Lesson #2: Faithful Giving communicates partnership in the gospel (v.14-16)
Without sounding ungrateful, Paul thanks the Philippians for partnering with him in ministry, even to share in his trouble.
You may have heard of the Greek word for fellowship: Koinonia.
“To share” and “partnership” are the same group word for fellowship.
They desire to contribute to the gospel ministry because they want to actively participate in the vision of spreading the gospel to the whole world.
Paul makes a statement that the Philippians alone entered into partnership/fellowship with Paul ever since the beginning of the gospel, which means when the gospel first landed on European soil.
And Philippi was the 1st city where the gospel reach the European continent during Paul’s second missionary journey.
And Philippi was the 1st city where the gospel reach the European continent during Paul’s second missionary journey.
After some of the Philippians became Christians, they formed the church.
And the Philippians are going to be the ones who would support Paul in bringing the gospel wherever he goes.
Verse 16 tells us of their support and help when Paul was in Thessalonica.
It was the Philippians who were faithful givers in partnering and supporting gospel ministries.
I want to read because it is very important for you to know about the Philippians’ financial circumstances.
Before I read, let me give you a geographical background.
Philippi was located in Northeast of Greece, which is the leading city of the district of Macedonia.
I suppose you can view Macedonia as a province of a country, and Philippi as a city of that province.
Philippi was located in Northeast of Greece, which is the leading city of the district of Macedonia.
I suppose you can view Macedonia as a province of a country, and Philippi as a city of that province.
John MacArthur said that “this was basically an impoverished province that had been ravaged by many wars and even then was being plundered by Roman authority and commerce.”
In other words, the Philippians were generally poor.
READ 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
2 Corinthians 8:1-5
With that background in mind let us read 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
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