Chapter 29, starting at verse 10, and that's on page 434.
434.
1 Chronicles chapter 29, beginning at verse 10.
David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our Father Israel, and from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power, and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom. You are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you. You are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?
Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers.
Our days on earth are like a shadow without hope.
O Lord, our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your holy name,
it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.
I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.
All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent.
And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
O Lord, God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.
O Lord, God of our fathers, Abraham, and Israel,
So, verses 10 to 20 of chapter 4.
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.
Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel,
when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only.
For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.
Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.
I have received full payment and even more.
I am amply supplied now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.
They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.
Amen.
Thanks very much.
Well, please keep your Bibles open at that passage there in Philippians.
And chapter 4.
We're thinking this morning of giving.
Do you have it?
Oh, wonderful.
Thank you.
Magic, isn't it?
We've been looking at different aspects of what we do on a Sunday morning.
So we've been looking at things like singing, prayer, hearing from God's word, meeting together, what we did last week.
And then this week, we're going to be looking at giving.
The collection, or as some people do it, by standing order.
And as I've said, if you want to know more about giving, there's that sheet, which has just kind of a big overview of where the giving goes to, what comes in, what goes out, and how it is all used.
Because we want to be up front.
We don't want to be hiding anything from anybody, but that you all know what is happening in regards to our finances.
But what about giving for ourselves?
Well, that's what we have to think through this morning.
So let's pray.
And then we're going to look at the book of Philippians as we think about giving.
Let's pray together.
Father, we thank you for giving to us your grace, for giving to us your Son, the Lord Jesus, for giving to us the gift of your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, living within all those who trust you and love you.
Father, we thank you for your many gifts, and we pray for your help, for your enabling, for your grace to be poured out upon us through your Spirit, that we may better grasp what it is to be a giving people, how we give, what we give.
Please teach us.
And may your words shape our lives.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, as you sit, you must be thinking, Johnny, you must be mad.
How can I begin to think of giving when I don't even have enough to be paying my bills?
You must be living on a different planet or be best buddies with Bono.
Don't you understand the trouble that we're all in?
The increase in tax, the cut in benefits, the introduction of levies, and the reduction in pay.
What are you going on about giving for?
The government are taking enough of our money, and now it seems like the church are wanting a bit more.
Well, before you all leave in protest, let me say this very clearly.
This is not a demand for more money.
And this is not a desire to make anybody feel guilty.
Okay?
So do you hear that?
It is not a demand for money, and it is not to see anybody feel guilty.
For two reasons.
Firstly, as pastor, I'm aware of people's generosity and their sacrificial giving.
In fact, as a church, we have been able to give.
Not only have we been able to give, but giving has increased when the economy has been going down.
You can have a look at the sheet and you will see that.
At the end of last year, we managed to balance out at a time when businesses are going bust.
And not only have we been able to give week by week or month by month, but we've been able to give as certain needs have arisen,
such as many who is going to Korea or to the work of compassion.
People are and people do give despite tough times.
So I want to recognize that.
Second, on a surface reading of this text, we find ourselves in different circumstances.
Paul knew this very well in verse 12.
He says,
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.
So each person here and every family represented goes through different seasons.
Sometimes we're people who are in need,
and sometimes we are people who have plenty.
We're all in different circumstances,
and therefore we have to respond accordingly.
So this is not an attempt for me to get myself a white suit and some nice gold rings and a nice gold necklace,
get myself on the God channel and say,
sow those seeds of financial giving and the Lord is going to bless you richly.
It's not about that at all.
So our aim this morning is to see if our attitude and our approach to giving is in line with what God has to say.
Is our attitude and our approach to giving in line with what God has to say?
And to do that, we're going to look at these closing comments in Philippians chapter 4,
this letter to the church in Philippi to help us be clear about giving.
So four things we're going to look at about giving.
And if you pay attention, you might even hear me say,
we don't want your money.
So pay attention.
So the first one, partnership in the gospel of Christ.
Giving is about our partnership in the gospel of Christ.
Look at chapter 1 of Philippians, verse 3.
I thank my God every time I remember you.
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.
Why is he thankful and why is he joyful?
Verse 5, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
In business terms, partnership simply means a commitment to a shared vision or a joint venture.
Now I think that helps us understand the partnership between Paul and this church at Philippi.
They both have a commitment to a shared vision, a joint venture.
They want to see the gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ, go to every nation and every people group in the world.
That's their vision.
They are partners in this gospel to see it go across the world.
Now the church's commitment to this vision is seen in their sacrificial giving.
In two ways.
Firstly, in the presence.
So as Paul is writing this letter, he's actually in prison.
So look at chapter 1, verse 12.
He says,
So even though he's in prison, the gospel is going.
But how did they partner Paul when he was in prison?
Well, look at chapter 2, verse 25.
And we get the answer.
Chapter 2, verse 25.
He says,
So here's Paul in prison.
How did they partner him?
By sending one of their own people, Epaphroditus from their own church, to go to where Paul was to take care of his needs.
And as a result of this partnership, the gospel continued to advance, even though he was in prison.
But not only did they give people to Paul, they also gave gifts.
Look at verse 29.
Chapter 2.
He says,
So he's talking here about the fact that the church had sent a financial gift.
That was as much as they could give.
And because there was no electronic banking in those days,
Epaphroditus was the guy who was going to bring that gift to the church.
To Paul, rather.
In prison.
And he was going to go along and take care of his needs.
So in response to their giving, Paul could say in chapter 4, verse 10.
He can say,
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.
Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
Verse 14.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
So we can begin to see their partnership in the gospel.
They were committed to seeing the gospel advance,
and they gave of people,
and they gave of their finances to make sure that that happened.
So this was in the present circumstances for where Paul was.
But it also happened in the past.
Look at verse 15 of chapter 4.
Moreover, as you Philippians know,
in the early days of your acquaintance,
and the same word there, acquaintance,
is partnership.
Okay?
So in the early days of your partnership with the gospel,
when I set out from Macedonia,
not one church shared with me
in the matter of giving and receiving,
except you only.
For even when I was in Thessalonica,
you sent me aid again and again
when I was in need.
Now if we went back to Acts 16,
there's no need to turn to it.
We have this great account of how the church started in Philippi.
And as soon as the church started,
Paul then moved off from Philippi,
and he went off down to a town called Thessalonica,
where he continued to preach the gospel
and start new churches.
And amazingly,
this new church in Philippi,
these baby new Christians,
as Paul moved away from that church,
they were the first church
to support him
and to help him
in his church planting work.
So verse 16,
he says,
when I was in Thessalonica,
you sent me aid again
and again
when I was in need.
So that's why Paul can start his letter
by thanking God
for their partnership
in the gospel
from the first day
right up until now.
Together,
they are committed
to the same vision.
They have this joint venture
to see the advance of the gospel
and the planting of new churches.
Now,
if we have faith in Christ,
we together here
are also partners in the gospel.
We're partners with each other
and with the wider church of God's people
all around the world.
So as a church,
we make sure
that all our giving
goes to the advance
of the gospel
and the starting
of new churches.
So check out those sheets
and make sure
that that's what happens,
that all our giving
goes towards
the advance of the gospel
and the starting
of new churches.
Of course,
there are bills to pay.
There's rent
and there's insurance.
We have to meet
somewhere like this.
We have to pay
for the lighting
and all the rest of it.
But all of that
is geared down
to making
mission
happen.
The training up,
the building up
of people,
the advancing
of the gospel
and the starting
of new churches.
So let me make
this crystal clear.
Only give
if you want
to see
the gospel
advance.
If this is not
your vision,
if you are not
concerned about
the good news
of Jesus going
into all the world,
then please
don't give.
We don't want
people giving
their money
to something
that they don't
believe in.
And it's really
important that
we get that.
Unless you are
a partner
in the gospel,
unless your vision
is to see
the gospel advance
and to see
churches planted,
then it's much
better to give
your money
to something
else that you
do believe in.
We want
and we encourage
people to give
those who are
partners
in the gospel.
Unashamedly,
we make it
a focus
within this church
to see the
gospel advance
and to see
churches planted
and that's
where we
encourage people
to give.
If that's not
your vision,
then give
to some
other cause.
So that's the
first thing,
we are to be
partners in
giving.
The second
reason for
giving is
about sharing
in the grace
of Christ.
Sharing in the
grace of Christ.
chapter 1
verse 7.
He's been
talking about
their partnership.
He says,
it's right for
me to feel
this way
about all
of you.
Since I
have you
in my
heart,
for whether
I am in
chains
or defending
and confirming
the gospel,
all of you
share in
God's grace
with me.
So whenever
Paul went
to Philippi,
he told them
the good news
about Jesus
Christ,
about the
grace they
had received.
That through
our faith in
Christ and
everything that
Jesus has done
for us,
we're forgiven
of all of
our sin,
all of our
guilt is dealt
with,
we're set free
from God's
wrath because
Jesus took
that and we
are now welcomed
into his
family.
So he's
reminding them
of the grace
that they share
in together.
In fact,
he reminds them
of the outworkings
of that grace.
Look at
chapter 3
verse 20.
This is an
aspect of
sharing in
the grace.
Chapter 3
verse 20.
But he says,
our citizenship
is in heaven
and we eagerly
await a
saviour from
there,
the Lord
Jesus Christ,
who by the
power that
enables him
to bring
everything
under his
control,
will transform
our lowly
bodies so
they will be
like his
glorious body.
So this
grace that
they share
in has
dealt with
their past
and the
grace that
they share
in has
secured
their future.
The grace
that they
have received
is so rich
and so
generous
that their
lives have
been radically
changed and
transformed.
Now the
grace that
they share
in is now
being worked
out in
practical ways
of giving.
And for
this church
it meant
giving to
support Paul
in his
gospel work.
So look at
chapter 4
verse 18.
He can say,
because they've
shared in this
grace together,
he can say,
verse 18 of
chapter 4,
I have received
full payment
and even
more.
I am amply
supplied now
that I have
received from
Epaphroditus
the gifts,
or if you
like the
word there,
is the
graces
that you
sent.
So the
church's
giving was
in response
to God's
amazing
generosity
to them.
The gifts
that they
had received
from,
the gifts
that Paul
had received
from the
church
was in
response
to the
grace
that they
were sharing
in.
Receiving
from God
gets worked
out in
giving back
to God.
And let's
be clear
that their
giving was
not to
try and
earn God's
favour or
try and
earn God's
blessing.
Look at the
end of verse
18.
He says,
they are a
fragrant
offering,
an acceptable
sacrifice,
pleasing to
God.
So this
was in
response to
God's
amazing
generosity
to them.
It was
their means
of expressing
their thanks
and their
joy,
to God
for everything
that God
had given
to them
and in
response to
his grace
they share
generously
with those
around them.
Now we're
people who
share in
God's grace.
In fact
the only
genuine
way,
the only
generous
way that
giving
happens
is when
we experience
God's grace
for ourselves.
The more
we experience
his grace,
the more
we understand
his grace,
our giving
will be
genuine
and generous.
So that's
the second
thing.
First,
it's about
the partnership
in the
gospel of
Christ
and second,
it's about
sharing in
the grace
of Christ.
Now I'm
just going to
pause there
very briefly
because I
understand these
plastic chairs
are not very
comfortable,
they're not
the blue
ones,
so I'm
going to
say if
you want
to have a
stand and
a stretch
and move
your back,
please feel
free to do
that.
If you want
to, if
you want
to, stay
where you
are.
The third
one then is
giving is
all about
contentment
in the
sufficiency
of Christ.
Paul himself
had learnt
to be
content.
Look at
verse 11.
He says,
I am not
saying this
because I
am in
need.
So he's
not giving
them all
the thanks
and all
the praise
so that
he can
receive more.
It's kind
of like,
oh you
are so
generous,
so kind,
and if
he wanted
to give
me a bit
more I'd
be very
happy.
No, he's
not saying
that.
He's just
wanting to
thank them
for, he
says, I
have learned
to be content
whatever the
circumstances.
I know
what it
is to
be in
need, and
I know
what it
is to
have
plenty.
Now in
this context
Paul is
the receiver
but he's
not the
giver.
But I
think we've
got a
principle
here about
contentment
that affects
our attitude
towards giving.
Now generally
speaking our
giving is
dictated by
our circumstances.
Isn't that
right?
So if we
have plenty,
well we're
able to
give.
But if
we're in
need, then
we don't
give.
But I
don't think
it's not
about how
much we
have or
how little
we have.
It's about
being content
in the
sufficiency
of Christ.
That's what
should shape
our giving.
So look at
the rest of
verse 12.
He says,
I have
learned the
secret of
being content
in any
and every
situation,
whether
well fed
or hungry,
whether
living in
plenty or
in want.
You see,
for Paul,
his life
is not
dictated by
circumstances.
He is
content
with all
that he
has from
Christ.
Christ is
his contentment.
Christ is
his sufficiency.
So look
back at
chapter 3
verse 7.
This is
what he
can say.
whatever
was to
my
profit,
I now
consider
loss
for the
sake of
Christ.
What is
more,
I consider
everything
a loss
compared
to the
surpassing
greatness
of knowing
Christ Jesus
my Lord,
for whose
sake I
have lost
all things.
I consider
them rubbish
that I
may gain
Christ.
So for
Paul in
his life,
Christ is
sufficient.
Christ is
the one
who fills
us.
Christ is
the one
who satisfies
us.
So all
we ever
need is
found in
Christ.
So Paul's
life is
not changed
whether he
is well
fed or
hungry,
whether he
is living
in plenty
or in
want.
Christ is
sufficient.
That's the
principle.
Now I
think we
can apply
that same
principle to
our own
giving.
Our
giving is
not dictated
by our
circumstances.
Our
giving is
being moved
by what
brings us
contentment.
So our
concern is
not whether
we are rich
or poor,
but that
Christ is
sufficient.
If Christ
fills us
and satisfies
us, if
Christ is
better than
anything we
have or
we don't
have, then
our approach
to giving
is going
to be
very, very
different.
So let's
apply this
with a
couple of
questions.
If we're
in a
position of
plenty and
it was
suddenly taken
away from
you, all
right, just
put yourself
in that
position.
If all of a
sudden you
had to
downsize your
house, you
had to sell
your car, you
had to go on
the dole, how
would you
cope?
If all of
a sudden
everything had
to be
narrowed down,
you had to
sell a
house, sell
your car, go
on the
dole, what
would it be
like?
If the
very thought
of that
devastates
you, then
your contentment
is in
material things.
that means
we won't
give for
fear we'll
lose what
we do
have.
It's saying
that Christ
is not
sufficient so
that we must
desperately hold
on to what
we do have.
But it
applies also to
the opposite
end.
If we find
we're in a
position of
need and
imagine that
suddenly you
became very
wealthy, who
knows, you
win the
lotto.
more cash
in your
pocket, more
resources at
hand, how
would you
cope then?
What changes
would it bring
to your life?
If the very
thought of
having more
money sends
your head in
a spin of
how much
better life
would be and
how much
more happier
you would
be, then
your contentment
is also in
material things.
That means
you will not
want to
give because
you'll always
be wanting
more.
Christ, you'll
be saying, is
not sufficient
because you're
always on the
ways to look
out for how
I can get
more money.
So contentment
is independent
of our
circumstances and
also our
giving needs
to be independent
of our
circumstances.
We give
because Christ
is sufficient.
He is greater
than having
plenty and
he is greater
than being
poor.
He is all
that we
ever need.
So,
partnership in
the gospel of
Christ,
sharing in the
grace of
Christ,
contentment in
the sufficiency
of Christ,
and then
forth, giving
is about
trusting in
the riches
of Christ.
Christ.
Look at
verse 19.
And my
God will
meet all
your needs
according to
his glorious
riches in
Christ Jesus.
Now, there's a
promise, isn't
it?
We read it
again.
My God
will meet
all your
needs
according to
the glorious
riches in
Christ Jesus.
God
is
so our
giving is
based on
the fact
that God
has promised
to meet
all of our
needs.
Let's be
clear, this
is not a
promise that
God is going
to make us
all wealthy
and healthy.
This is a
guarantee that
God will meet
all our
needs, not
our grieves
or our
wants.
And again,
Paul knew
this from
experience.
Look at
verse 13.
chapter 4.
He says,
I can do
everything
through him
who gives
me strength.
Again, this
didn't mean
that Paul in
his difficult
circumstances
could suddenly
just click
his fingers
and get
money from
nowhere.
He could
do anything
he wanted.
No, it
means whatever
his circumstance,
whether he's
in plenty or
whether he's
in want,
whether he's
hungry or
whether he's
well fed,
he is able
to do
everything
that God
calls him
to do.
Whatever
circumstance
of life
he's in,
he will be
able to do
everything that
God calls
him to do.
He is not
going to be
lacking at
any point
because God
is going to
give him the
strength that
he needs
to deal with
whether he is
well fed
and in a
nice big
house or
whether he
is hungry
and in
prison as
he is in
this circumstance
right now.
Now in the
same way we
have this
amazing promise
from God.
He will
meet all of
our needs
according to
the glorious
riches that
are in Christ
Jesus.
He doesn't
give us what
we want or
what we think
we need.
God will
give to us
what he
knows we
need.
And I think
because God
made us,
he knows
us far better
than we know
ourselves.
And whatever
that need
is that we
may have,
his glorious
riches,
and I don't
think there's
any limit to
God's glorious
riches since
he owns the
whole world,
they belong to
him, he is
able to meet
that need.
And once
again this
promise shapes
our attitude
and approach
to giving.
Our concern
is to be the
needs of
others, the
advancement of
the gospel,
the planting of
churches and
the needs
within this
church.
We are not
to be so
tied up with
our needs
because God
looks after
our needs.
Well, you
say, how do
you know if
that promise
is true?
Because this
is a promise,
verse 19.
Well, apart
from Paul's
experience, he
could say this
was true for
him.
The only way
that we're
going to
experience if
this promise
is going to
be true for
you and
for me, is
if we step
out in
obedience and
trust and do
what God
says.
We give
trusting in
God's generosity
towards us.
But let's be
crystal clear in
this again.
This does not
mean guaranteed
comfort or
better salary.
If we decide
to give more,
it doesn't mean
to say that
you're going to
have more.
it means that
Christ is
sufficient and
he will meet
all of our
needs.
It's a
promise.
So we are
not asking for
more money
and we're not
demanding for
more money.
We're not
wanting anybody
to feel guilty.
We've
recognised that
as a church
people give
sacrificially and
generously.
we simply
want to hear
what God
has to say
about our
attitude and
our approach
to giving.
Giving is not
a thoughtless
matter, a
thing we just
do as the
bag is being
passed around
in front of
us or
something we
decide off a
whim.
It's not
about that.
Our giving
is about
these four
things.
It's about
partnering in
the gospel
of Christ.
It's about
sharing in
the grace of
Christ.
It's about
our contentment
in the
sufficiency of
Christ.
And it's
about trusting
in the
riches of
Christ.
We need
to align
ourselves to
these four
priorities and
to live our
lives in
response.
Let's pray
together.
Amen.
Our Father
God, you
are incredibly
generous.
There is not
one of us here
this morning who
is hungry.
There is not
one of us who
is needing a
home because we
all have one.
You have
blessed us and
given us so
much.
and we
want to thank
you for every
gift that we
have received
from you.
Every euro
and every
cent.
All signs of
your generosity.
We ask
and we
pray that
you would
help us to
be a people
who are
partners in
the gospel.
That we
share generously
of your
grace.
That we
find ourselves
daily content
with all
that Christ
is.
Never wanting
more,
never wanting
less,
but being
content with
what he gives
us.
And that you
would enable
us to be
a family
who trust
you and
trust your
promises
promises that
you will
provide
according to
our need.
We thank
you for
your goodness,
for your
blessings.
We thank
you for your
faithfulness to
us as a
church family.
Thank you for
all that we
have been
able to do
over 2010
or 2011.
Please help
us to be a
people who go
on generously
giving,
not just to
the needs
here at
home,
but to the
needs around
this world.
Father, we
thank you for
your faithfulness,
for your love.
Please help us
to be good
stewards.
Please help us
to be honourable
with all that
we do.
we trust you
for the future
as we look
back in
thankfulness for
all that you
have done.
In Jesus'
name,
Amen.