WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.040 The following sermon is made available by Lakeside Bible Church in Cornelius, North Carolina. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:19.160 For more information about our church or to find more recorded sermons, 00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:22.719 please visit us online at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:25.719 We'd also love to connect with you on social media. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:30.679 You can find us by searching Lakeside Bible NC on Facebook and Instagram. 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:37.920 For specific questions about the Bible or our church, please email us at info at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:39.659 --> 00:00:44.780 Philippians chapter 4, let's read beginning at verse 15. 00:00:45.859 --> 00:00:51.899 Now ye Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia, 00:00:51.899 --> 00:00:58.239 no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only. 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:03.359 For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again unto my necessity, 00:01:03.859 --> 00:01:09.259 not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:12.060 But I have all and abound. 00:01:12.060 --> 00:01:17.519 I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, 00:01:17.980 --> 00:01:23.700 an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. 00:01:24.520 --> 00:01:30.120 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 00:01:31.079 --> 00:01:35.240 Now unto God our Father be glory forever and ever. 00:01:35.859 --> 00:01:36.200 Amen. 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:36.400 Amen. 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:42.379 Let's just say another quick prayer and ask for the Lord's help as we come to the word today. 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:49.460 Lord, we do ask once again that you would help us now as we focus in on this passage. 00:01:50.620 --> 00:01:54.600 Lord, that you would give us eyes to see and ears to hear. 00:01:56.200 --> 00:02:01.079 As Jeremiah prayed that you would take our hearts of stone and you would give us a heart of flesh 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:02.680 that can respond to your word. 00:02:02.780 --> 00:02:04.620 That you would do that work in us today. 00:02:04.620 --> 00:02:07.439 That you would speak, Lord, through your word. 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:10.099 Help us now in Jesus' name. 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:10.939 Amen. 00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:16.939 Well, Paul's letter to Philippi, as we've studied over and over, 00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:22.400 was a response to the generosity of the congregation. 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:27.520 They had sent Epaphroditus, as we see once again in verse 18, 00:02:27.640 --> 00:02:30.020 and we refer back to chapter 2 as well on this. 00:02:30.500 --> 00:02:33.120 They had sent Epaphroditus as their messenger. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:39.480 He was to check on Paul to see how he was doing as he was in his fourth year of imprisonment in Rome, 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:41.599 or at least in Roman imprisonment. 00:02:42.020 --> 00:02:47.460 And he was also taking a gift, a collection, material collection that the church had taken up 00:02:47.460 --> 00:02:55.780 in order to help Paul and help him meet his even basic needs as he was there in prison under house arrest in Rome. 00:02:55.780 --> 00:03:02.300 So what we see now in this section, really the second half of Philippians chapter 4, 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:04.920 is really Paul's thank you note to the church. 00:03:05.259 --> 00:03:11.960 Thanking them for this gift and expressing how grateful he was to the Lord for them and for their concern. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:17.420 The first paragraph in this section, which is verses 10 through 14, 00:03:17.419 --> 00:03:22.739 we studied it last week, reveals the example of Paul's personal contentment 00:03:22.739 --> 00:03:30.000 and how challenging of a passage that is for us as we come to understand how discontent we often can be. 00:03:30.519 --> 00:03:35.500 Yet in the most difficult of circumstances, Paul wrote that he had learned the secret of contentment, 00:03:35.939 --> 00:03:39.099 that contentment ultimately is found in Jesus, 00:03:39.779 --> 00:03:45.159 that the strength and the encouragement that he finds actually comes from the hand of God. 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:49.000 And it's the ordinary means of churches like the Philippian congregation 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:52.979 that the Lord was using to encourage Paul as he was there. 00:03:53.099 --> 00:03:57.159 But he wanted them to know that he had learned contentment and he was encouraging them in that. 00:03:57.859 --> 00:04:00.199 As we get to this second paragraph here, 00:04:00.859 --> 00:04:06.099 we see that the attention is turned now to the church itself. 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:12.740 And the focus of our study today becomes the congregation's example rather than Paul's example. 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:16.800 And it's their example of giving and generosity. 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:23.740 Indeed, the churches of Macedonia, which were really led by the congregation in Philippi, 00:04:24.460 --> 00:04:28.100 are noted all throughout the New Testament for their giving spirit 00:04:28.100 --> 00:04:33.920 and their sacrificial offerings that they took repetitively in order to encourage the work of God. 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:38.019 And we typically view our instruction in these New Testament letters 00:04:38.019 --> 00:04:42.039 as coming from the apostles that the Lord used to write them. 00:04:42.099 --> 00:04:43.680 But here in this part of the passage, 00:04:43.979 --> 00:04:46.759 the instruction that we gain doesn't actually come from Paul. 00:04:47.359 --> 00:04:50.740 It comes as we acknowledge the example of the church itself, 00:04:51.479 --> 00:04:52.919 as he commends them, 00:04:53.419 --> 00:04:57.219 and as he thanks them for what they had done, 00:04:57.279 --> 00:04:58.979 we actually learn from them. 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:01.539 In fact, as we study the New Testament, 00:05:01.540 --> 00:05:07.080 often the Philippian church was the only church that was actually committed 00:05:07.080 --> 00:05:09.780 to faithfully giving to the work of Paul. 00:05:10.580 --> 00:05:12.760 There were even times in the Corinthian letters 00:05:12.760 --> 00:05:16.900 that Paul had to prod the more wealthy Corinthian church 00:05:16.900 --> 00:05:18.180 and Corinthian congregation 00:05:18.180 --> 00:05:22.060 to actually fulfill a commitment that they had made a year before 00:05:22.060 --> 00:05:24.660 to actually help other churches that were in need. 00:05:24.820 --> 00:05:25.860 And he was having to prod them 00:05:25.860 --> 00:05:27.520 and encourage them to fulfill that commitment. 00:05:27.780 --> 00:05:29.160 He never had to do that with Philippi. 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:31.380 They led in the way in this. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:35.760 And here we find a great example of their giving. 00:05:36.780 --> 00:05:39.920 And we can't help but think about, 00:05:40.020 --> 00:05:43.460 as we come to the issue of giving and generosity in the Scriptures, 00:05:44.280 --> 00:05:46.480 that there are many believers, many Christians, 00:05:46.660 --> 00:05:49.120 that do not faithfully give. 00:05:50.080 --> 00:05:51.980 And why is that, I ask myself this week? 00:05:52.020 --> 00:05:54.660 Why is it such a struggle for us sometimes 00:05:54.660 --> 00:05:56.080 to be generous in our giving, 00:05:56.080 --> 00:05:58.680 to be faithful in our giving to the Lord 00:05:58.680 --> 00:06:00.699 and our giving to the ministry? 00:06:01.420 --> 00:06:03.139 And I think there's a lot of reasons for that, 00:06:03.220 --> 00:06:06.459 but I've kind of grouped them into three basic explanations, 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:10.040 really three categories as to why we often struggle with giving. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:11.900 The first category is this, 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:14.960 is really just an inward focus, an inward focus. 00:06:16.420 --> 00:06:19.300 Selfishness is endemic to human nature, 00:06:19.300 --> 00:06:20.560 as we studied last week. 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:25.439 Contentment is a foreign concept in our society. 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:27.860 And many Christians don't give 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:32.079 because they're more concerned about pleasing themselves. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:37.319 Their inward focus prevents them from seeing the need to give, 00:06:37.420 --> 00:06:40.220 and it leads them to even rationalize 00:06:40.220 --> 00:06:42.259 why they can't or shouldn't give. 00:06:42.819 --> 00:06:44.959 It's not a matter of, will I obey the Lord? 00:06:45.019 --> 00:06:46.600 It's a rationalization on, 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:49.399 I have all of these other things in my life I'm trying to do, 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:51.779 and surely God wants me to be happy, 00:06:52.099 --> 00:06:56.060 and so he would rather me fulfill my happiness through these things 00:06:56.060 --> 00:06:59.919 than he would me sacrifice those things in order to give. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:03.000 And so there's an inward focus in a lot of people's hearts 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:05.799 that actually prevents them from faithfully giving to the Lord. 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:08.540 I think a second category for this, 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:09.540 at least among believers, 00:07:09.780 --> 00:07:13.759 is that worship and ministry aren't always the priority. 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:17.259 Worship and ministry aren't always the priority. 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:22.340 For some, it's not always a lack of giving 00:07:22.340 --> 00:07:26.639 as much as it is a disregard for giving to God. 00:07:27.580 --> 00:07:30.220 This type of person may be very generous 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:31.699 to their friends and their family. 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:35.300 They may be captivated even by a local charity 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:36.939 that just is involved in something 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:38.079 that they're passionate about, 00:07:38.159 --> 00:07:40.659 and they see that they want to partner in this passion 00:07:40.659 --> 00:07:43.120 to help this specific need in their community, 00:07:43.259 --> 00:07:45.500 but they never sense that same kind of passion 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:46.439 in the work of God. 00:07:47.719 --> 00:07:51.000 And so worship and the giving of worship on a Sunday morning 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:54.800 or giving of regular worship to the church 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:56.939 is not so much a priority of theirs. 00:07:57.279 --> 00:08:00.159 The passion for the ministry of the gospel 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:01.880 isn't so much of a passion for them 00:08:01.880 --> 00:08:04.660 as many other things that they have going on in their life. 00:08:04.700 --> 00:08:06.540 So sometimes it's just an inward focus. 00:08:06.640 --> 00:08:08.300 Sometimes it's not so much an inward focus 00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:10.420 as much as it is worship and ministry 00:08:10.420 --> 00:08:11.300 just aren't a priority. 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:13.280 And then the third category, I think, 00:08:13.340 --> 00:08:15.760 is where most Christians who are not faithful to give 00:08:15.760 --> 00:08:17.700 fall into is the category of fear. 00:08:18.460 --> 00:08:19.480 They're just afraid to give. 00:08:20.460 --> 00:08:21.860 It's not that they don't want to, 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:25.660 and it's not that they haven't prioritized ministry 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:26.240 and worship. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:28.740 They could be faithful in every other area of their life. 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:31.800 But they're afraid that if they give, 00:08:31.960 --> 00:08:33.399 they'll lack what they need 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:35.560 to meet their basic needs in life. 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:37.680 And we all understand that fear. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:41.240 We all have dealt with that fear before. 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:44.600 The problem is, is that kind of fear 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:46.340 leads us to disobedience, 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:48.100 and that's the issue with it. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:50.820 It essentially says, 00:08:51.379 --> 00:08:54.740 I will be better to me than God will be to me. 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:57.759 I will take better care of myself 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:00.600 than what I trust and believe 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:03.440 that God will take care of me in. 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:05.580 Well, the example of the Philippians 00:09:05.580 --> 00:09:07.019 in verses 15 through 20 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:08.740 covers all three of those explanations, 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:11.840 or all three of those categories. 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:14.480 It is interesting how the topic of giving 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:18.680 will arouse all kinds of theological interest 00:09:18.680 --> 00:09:20.019 in the hearts of people 00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:21.740 that otherwise couldn't care less 00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:22.799 about digging too deep 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:24.779 into the doctrinal things of the Bible, right? 00:09:25.019 --> 00:09:26.419 If you bring up a message 00:09:26.419 --> 00:09:28.580 or bring up the issue of faithfully giving, 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:29.139 all of a sudden, 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:30.399 they want to get very, very technical. 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:31.919 And they want to hear, 00:09:32.180 --> 00:09:33.860 well, what is it exactly 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:35.259 that God wants me to give? 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:37.000 Like, tell me exactly the amount 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:38.500 that God desires for me to give. 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:39.980 They want to get very technical in that. 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:42.019 Or perhaps they'll ask the question, 00:09:42.560 --> 00:09:44.399 does God desire that I tithe 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:45.659 on the gross income 00:09:45.659 --> 00:09:48.179 or on the net income? 00:09:48.699 --> 00:09:50.279 And we've all asked that question, 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:50.759 haven't we? 00:09:50.819 --> 00:09:51.740 I don't know how many times 00:09:51.740 --> 00:09:52.600 I've asked that question, 00:09:52.779 --> 00:09:54.100 and especially as a college student, 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:55.439 when you're just broke all the time 00:09:55.439 --> 00:09:56.299 and you really don't want 00:09:56.299 --> 00:09:57.519 to eat college food this week, 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:59.139 you want to go to Bojangles instead 00:09:59.139 --> 00:09:59.959 or Chick-fil-A, 00:10:00.059 --> 00:10:00.579 and you're just thinking, 00:10:00.719 --> 00:10:02.839 maybe I can adjust some things here. 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:04.939 What is it exactly 00:10:04.939 --> 00:10:06.159 that God wants me to give? 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:08.759 Rarely a simple answer 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:10.279 satisfies those questions. 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:13.159 We want to dissect those scriptures 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:14.559 just to make sure 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:16.139 that we're really, 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:17.819 somebody's really being honest 00:10:17.819 --> 00:10:18.500 with us in this 00:10:18.500 --> 00:10:20.039 because it would be a shame 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:21.559 for us to be bad stewards 00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:23.039 and actually give too much 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:23.639 to the Lord. 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:24.860 We don't want to do that. 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:27.600 We're the same people 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:30.299 that we meticulously review 00:10:30.299 --> 00:10:32.100 our end-of-the-year statements 00:10:32.100 --> 00:10:33.100 and contributions, right? 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:34.539 Because we're going to make sure 00:10:34.539 --> 00:10:35.860 that the IRS gives us credit 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:36.819 for everything that we gave 00:10:36.819 --> 00:10:37.919 to the church this year. 00:10:38.100 --> 00:10:39.059 And we end up becoming 00:10:39.059 --> 00:10:40.000 consumed with giving 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:40.919 in a way that we shouldn't 00:10:40.919 --> 00:10:41.459 be consumed with. 00:10:41.539 --> 00:10:42.500 We get very technical 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:43.919 on things that we don't 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:45.259 otherwise get technical on 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:46.240 at all. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.240 And I wrote in conviction 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:53.419 that how rarely we seem 00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:55.700 to determine the minimum amount 00:10:55.700 --> 00:10:56.879 that we can live on 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.940 in order that we can give 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:00.580 the most possible to the Lord. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:04.940 Instead, we often determine 00:11:04.940 --> 00:11:06.299 the minimum that we can give 00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:07.399 to appease the Lord 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:09.460 in order that we may keep 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:10.940 the most possible for ourselves. 00:11:10.940 --> 00:11:12.640 And unfortunately, 00:11:12.800 --> 00:11:14.000 that's the way most of us think. 00:11:14.660 --> 00:11:15.700 And that goes back 00:11:15.700 --> 00:11:17.840 to that issue of contentment 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:20.060 and that inward focus 00:11:20.060 --> 00:11:22.100 and not making worship 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:23.320 and ministry a priority 00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:25.460 and sometimes even fear. 00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:29.060 The discussion of money 00:11:29.060 --> 00:11:30.980 and giving has for some reason 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:33.860 become taboo among Christians 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:34.460 these days. 00:11:34.680 --> 00:11:36.080 We don't like to talk about it. 00:11:36.140 --> 00:11:37.240 It can be uncomfortable. 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:40.000 But I think the Bible 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:41.419 says a lot about this. 00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:43.500 And the intent of our study today 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:44.580 is not to get into 00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:45.799 those technicalities 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:47.419 about what we're supposed 00:11:47.419 --> 00:11:47.960 to give 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:48.779 and when we're supposed 00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:49.299 to give it 00:11:49.299 --> 00:11:50.200 and to who we're supposed 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:50.600 to give. 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:52.519 Because that's not what 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:53.620 this passage deals with. 00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:56.180 The passage really deals with 00:11:56.180 --> 00:11:57.500 and meditates on 00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:58.740 the spirit of our giving. 00:11:59.500 --> 00:12:00.480 Why do we give? 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:02.879 And how are we to give 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.899 in regards to our character 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:06.720 and our spirit in doing so? 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:08.100 That's really largely 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:08.799 the difference 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:10.679 in the topic of giving 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:11.480 and generosity 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:12.559 between the Old Testament 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:13.340 and the New Testament. 00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:14.659 In the Old Testament 00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:16.439 we see many more passages 00:12:16.439 --> 00:12:17.399 that designate 00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:18.620 this is how much to give 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:19.759 and this is when to give it 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:20.980 and this is how to give it 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:21.959 and where you take it 00:12:21.959 --> 00:12:22.939 and all these kinds of things. 00:12:23.059 --> 00:12:24.159 And there were all kinds 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:24.620 of instructions 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:25.379 in the Old Testament 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:25.899 for that. 00:12:26.059 --> 00:12:26.679 But the New Testament 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:27.559 really deals with giving 00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:28.819 in a very different way. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:31.559 To the best of my knowledge 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:32.419 there's no passage 00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:33.120 in the New Testament 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:33.980 that says you're supposed 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:35.200 to give this amount 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:35.980 or this percentage 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:36.700 or this thing 00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:37.100 and you're supposed 00:12:37.100 --> 00:12:38.320 to give it on this day 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:39.159 and in this place 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:40.300 and there are things 00:12:40.300 --> 00:12:41.100 that we can deduce 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:41.639 from all of that 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:43.460 but there's no direct command 00:12:43.460 --> 00:12:44.080 in that. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:45.100 What the New Testament 00:12:45.100 --> 00:12:45.659 deals with 00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:46.399 and what our passage 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:47.700 in Philippians 4 deals with 00:12:47.700 --> 00:12:49.659 is the spirit behind our giving 00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:51.440 that we give sacrificially 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:52.019 to the Lord 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:53.440 that we give cheerfully 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:54.300 to the Lord 00:12:54.300 --> 00:12:56.159 that we give with ministry 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:56.779 in mind 00:12:56.779 --> 00:12:57.680 and the Lord's work 00:12:57.680 --> 00:12:58.639 in mind 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:00.240 and that we do that 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.000 with a grateful spirit 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.259 in worship. 00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:05.500 In these verses 00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:07.060 nothing instructional 00:13:07.060 --> 00:13:07.600 is given. 00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:09.720 There is no direct command. 00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:11.360 Paul's not telling 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.259 the Philippian church 00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:12.759 to give. 00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:13.800 He didn't have to 00:13:13.800 --> 00:13:14.560 because they were 00:13:14.560 --> 00:13:15.220 already giving. 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:17.980 He was simply commending them 00:13:17.980 --> 00:13:19.480 on how faithful 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:20.399 they had been 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:21.920 and they again 00:13:21.920 --> 00:13:23.200 become the premier example 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:23.740 for us 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:25.100 of how a congregation 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:26.440 is to view generosity. 00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:29.360 There's three individual words 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:29.779 that I've used 00:13:29.779 --> 00:13:30.800 just to help my own study. 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:32.060 Perhaps it'll be helpful 00:13:32.059 --> 00:13:33.039 to your study 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:34.159 of this passage as well. 00:13:34.479 --> 00:13:35.039 We're only going to get 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:35.879 to the first one today. 00:13:35.979 --> 00:13:36.899 We'll get to the other two 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:37.779 next week 00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:38.500 but the first one 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:39.359 that I have for a heading 00:13:39.359 --> 00:13:40.739 in verses 15 to 17 00:13:40.739 --> 00:13:42.359 is the word share. 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:44.179 The word share. 00:13:44.819 --> 00:13:45.419 Look with me again 00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:46.579 at verse number 15. 00:13:46.580 --> 00:13:47.960 Now you Philippians 00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:48.600 know also 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:49.500 that in the beginning 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:50.160 of the gospel 00:13:50.160 --> 00:13:51.520 when I departed 00:13:51.520 --> 00:13:52.680 from Macedonia 00:13:52.680 --> 00:13:54.940 no church communicated 00:13:54.940 --> 00:13:55.820 with me 00:13:55.820 --> 00:13:56.680 as concerning 00:13:56.680 --> 00:13:57.800 giving and receiving 00:13:57.800 --> 00:13:59.060 but you only. 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:00.960 For even in Thessalonica 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:02.680 you sent once and again 00:14:02.680 --> 00:14:03.700 unto my necessity. 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:05.759 Not because I desire gift. 00:14:05.820 --> 00:14:06.480 I'm not saying this 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:07.440 because I want you 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:08.080 to give more. 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:09.980 I just desire fruit 00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:11.700 that may abound 00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:13.360 to your account. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.960 He says 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:16.720 no church communicated 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.060 with me 00:14:18.060 --> 00:14:19.220 concerning giving 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:19.940 and receiving 00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:21.899 except you. 00:14:22.060 --> 00:14:22.659 You only. 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:24.659 And we've noted before 00:14:24.659 --> 00:14:25.779 several times actually 00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:27.180 in the book of Philippians 00:14:27.180 --> 00:14:28.759 what this word 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:29.519 communicated 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.840 means. 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:31.879 It comes from 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:33.240 that Greek word family 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:34.200 from koinonia. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.200 It means fellowship 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:38.019 or partnership 00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:40.120 active participation 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:41.860 sharing in. 00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:43.500 It's the same word 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.519 we find in 00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:45.800 chapter 1 00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:46.659 and verse 5 00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:47.600 when Paul thanked them 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:48.519 for their partnership 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:49.200 in the gospel. 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:50.279 Their fellowship 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:51.379 in the gospel. 00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:52.639 It's the same word 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:53.800 used in chapter 2 00:14:53.800 --> 00:14:55.019 and verse 1 00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:55.740 when he talked about 00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:56.720 having fellowship 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:58.139 with the Holy Spirit. 00:14:58.460 --> 00:14:59.240 It's the same word 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.779 he uses in chapter 3 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:01.379 and verse 10 00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:02.100 when he says 00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:03.180 that I may know him 00:15:03.180 --> 00:15:03.740 and the power 00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:04.399 of his resurrection 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:05.960 and the fellowship 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:07.180 of his sufferings 00:15:07.180 --> 00:15:08.720 being made conformable 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:10.759 unto Christ's death. 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:11.720 And then again 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:13.000 as we saw last week 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:13.720 the conclusion 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:15.120 in verse 14 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:16.200 he uses it again 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:17.820 that they did communicate 00:15:17.820 --> 00:15:19.240 with him in affliction. 00:15:20.040 --> 00:15:20.720 Paul's once again 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:22.639 referring to their partnership 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.840 in the gospel 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:24.960 but this time 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:25.980 it's with an emphasis 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:27.940 on sharing in 00:15:27.940 --> 00:15:30.100 and being an active participant 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:32.139 in the gospel work. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:33.899 Given the context 00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:35.019 of the passage 00:15:35.019 --> 00:15:36.080 it's not difficult 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:37.040 to make the connection. 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:39.300 He was specifically referring 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:41.479 to how they had participated 00:15:41.479 --> 00:15:42.359 with him 00:15:42.359 --> 00:15:43.359 in the ministry 00:15:43.359 --> 00:15:45.059 through the sharing 00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:46.839 of their resources. 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.279 And he said 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:49.620 that they had shared 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:51.259 in giving and receiving. 00:15:51.579 --> 00:15:52.620 Those are technical 00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.939 accounting words 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:54.559 in the Greek. 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:55.879 It could literally read 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:57.500 credits and debits. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:59.439 You have shared with me 00:15:59.439 --> 00:16:00.519 in crediting 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:01.699 and in debiting 00:16:01.699 --> 00:16:03.620 this sharing 00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.559 back and forth 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:05.579 of the gospel work 00:16:05.579 --> 00:16:07.379 and of gospel resources. 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:09.740 Not only had they shared 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.519 their resources 00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.399 for the gospel 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.759 but they had shared 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:14.220 in the blessings 00:16:14.220 --> 00:16:15.039 that came 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:16.759 from that gospel work. 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.879 And verses 15 through 17 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:20.179 I think share with us 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:21.639 or give us 00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:22.480 three ways 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:23.700 that they did share 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:24.299 through their giving 00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:25.840 and that we can also share 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.500 as a church 00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.740 in our giving. 00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:28.559 First 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:29.700 they shared 00:16:29.700 --> 00:16:30.379 in the work 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.059 of the gospel. 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.039 They shared 00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:33.120 in the work itself. 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.259 Look again 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:35.100 at verse 15. 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:36.200 He says 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:36.960 now you Philippians 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:37.560 know also 00:16:37.560 --> 00:16:38.780 that in the beginning 00:16:38.780 --> 00:16:39.879 of the gospel 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:42.840 you only gave. 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:45.620 Philippian church 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:47.340 wanted so much 00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:47.940 to be a part 00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:48.400 of the work 00:16:48.400 --> 00:16:48.960 of the gospel 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:50.000 across the world 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.320 that it actually 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.360 became the motivation 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.140 for their giving. 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:54.820 They weren't giving 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.600 to Paul 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.280 because Paul 00:16:56.280 --> 00:16:57.020 demanded it. 00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.400 They weren't giving 00:16:58.400 --> 00:16:59.340 in order that they may 00:16:59.340 --> 00:17:00.120 earn some type 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:01.060 of favor with God. 00:17:01.140 --> 00:17:01.680 They weren't giving 00:17:01.680 --> 00:17:02.440 in order to earn 00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:03.080 their salvation. 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:03.879 They were giving 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.960 because they were 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.960 passionate about 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.519 the work 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.420 of the gospel 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:08.279 and they wanted 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:08.839 to partner 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:09.960 in that work 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:11.180 in whatever way 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:12.279 they could. 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:13.559 In fact 00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:14.660 Paul clearly says 00:17:14.660 --> 00:17:15.039 in this 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.279 from the very beginning 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:16.920 of the start 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:17.480 of their church 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.359 in Acts 16 00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:20.079 they invested 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.940 financially 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:22.000 in this work 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.299 even when nobody 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:24.420 else was investing 00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:25.740 in helping Paul 00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:26.380 and his team. 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:27.920 In the beginning 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:28.740 of the work 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:29.660 in Philippi 00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:30.200 that is. 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:31.319 They began 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:31.900 to give 00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:33.160 and for a time 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:33.820 they were the only 00:17:33.820 --> 00:17:34.500 congregation 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.580 giving. 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:37.060 They believed 00:17:37.060 --> 00:17:37.960 in what he was doing. 00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:39.960 They were passionate 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:41.000 about that work 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:42.460 just like we are 00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:42.880 in the ways 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.660 that we give. 00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:45.280 We give to certain 00:17:45.280 --> 00:17:46.200 things with our kids 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:46.980 as they grow up 00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:47.840 because we're passionate 00:17:47.840 --> 00:17:48.560 about our kids. 00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.320 We're passionate 00:17:49.320 --> 00:17:50.280 about them pursuing 00:17:50.280 --> 00:17:50.920 certain things 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:51.360 in their life 00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:52.420 that will help them 00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:53.340 and so we give 00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:53.660 to that 00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:54.380 and we invest 00:17:54.380 --> 00:17:54.800 in that. 00:17:55.340 --> 00:17:56.040 We have other ways 00:17:56.040 --> 00:17:56.900 outside of the church 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:57.420 that we give 00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:58.160 and that's important. 00:17:58.320 --> 00:17:58.980 We're generous 00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.780 to other people 00:17:59.780 --> 00:18:00.460 and other causes 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.759 because we're passionate 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:03.119 about those things 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:03.799 but then we get 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.480 to the Philippian 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.099 congregation. 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.059 Why did they give 00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:07.140 even out of poverty? 00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:07.879 They gave 00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:08.480 because they were 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.759 passionate about the work. 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:10.779 They were passionate 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.579 about the gospel 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.299 and they wanted 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:12.900 to partner 00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:14.259 with Paul 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.200 in whatever work 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:15.799 he was doing 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.619 in taking the name 00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:17.039 of Christ 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.940 across the world. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.539 There's a lot 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.180 of good causes 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:20.859 out there 00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:22.460 but none of them 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.740 are as significant 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.500 as the work 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.079 of the gospel 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:25.920 of Jesus 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:27.240 and for us 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:28.359 the greatest investment 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:29.099 we can make 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:30.039 in a material way 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:31.119 is an investment 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:32.220 in the gospel 00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:33.200 and in the work 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:33.720 of the gospel 00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.539 around the world. 00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:36.460 One of the significant 00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:38.039 blessings of giving 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:39.159 faithfully to the work 00:18:39.159 --> 00:18:39.779 of the gospel 00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:41.240 is that it makes you 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:41.759 a partner 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.819 in that work. 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:45.700 You literally share 00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.799 in the work 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.599 of God 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:48.859 when you cheerfully 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:49.480 give 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.619 for its advancement. 00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:52.159 You literally 00:18:52.159 --> 00:18:53.319 koinonia 00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:55.200 partner with 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:56.240 communicate 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:57.159 with God 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:58.019 in that work. 00:18:58.300 --> 00:18:58.700 You become 00:18:58.700 --> 00:18:59.380 a participant 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:00.300 in it. 00:19:00.560 --> 00:19:01.259 Now think about it. 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.740 Most of the people 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.440 in Philippi 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:04.380 were incapable 00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:06.120 of going with Paul 00:19:06.120 --> 00:19:07.340 to Thessalonica. 00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:09.180 They couldn't just 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:10.060 uproot themselves 00:19:10.060 --> 00:19:10.740 and their families 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.200 and go. 00:19:11.340 --> 00:19:11.740 Maybe there were 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:12.279 other hindrances. 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:13.240 Perhaps some of them 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.080 did maybe 00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:15.019 make some trips 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.820 from time to time 00:19:15.820 --> 00:19:16.420 to try to help 00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.060 in the work 00:19:17.060 --> 00:19:17.460 that was going 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.060 but most of them 00:19:18.060 --> 00:19:18.580 were incapable 00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:19.360 of doing that. 00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:20.259 So how could 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:20.800 they partner? 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.120 They gave. 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.980 They found a way 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.100 to finance the work. 00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:25.700 Found a way 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:27.120 to finance the ministry 00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:27.980 and in that 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.940 they became partners 00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:29.720 and participants 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:31.380 in the work itself 00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:32.460 and the same goes 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:32.980 with us. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.420 You may never be called 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:36.240 to go to a specific 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:37.400 place around the world 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.779 to start churches 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:40.340 or preach the gospel 00:19:40.340 --> 00:19:42.460 but you can partner 00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.860 in gospel work 00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:45.360 by giving to the Lord 00:19:45.360 --> 00:19:46.000 in that way. 00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:48.380 What a glorious way 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:49.120 we have 00:19:49.120 --> 00:19:50.440 of stewarding 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:52.140 the prosperity 00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:53.340 that we have 00:19:53.340 --> 00:19:54.460 and being citizens 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:55.480 of the richest nation 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.120 on the planet 00:19:56.120 --> 00:19:57.440 than taking 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.279 that prosperity 00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:59.319 and giving it back 00:19:59.319 --> 00:19:59.759 to the Lord 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.400 and his work 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:01.440 across the world. 00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.380 So they shared 00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:03.240 in the work of God. 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:03.980 Why did they give? 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:05.120 They had to share. 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:06.339 They communicated with 00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:07.279 in the work itself. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:07.900 Secondly, 00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:08.839 they shared 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.420 in the needs 00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:09.920 of others. 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:11.400 They shared 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:11.880 in the needs 00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:12.200 of others. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:12.740 Look with me 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.539 at verse 16. 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:16.180 For even in Thessalonica 00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:16.880 or as Julie 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.579 and I would argue 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:18.360 sometimes I want 00:20:18.360 --> 00:20:19.319 to say Thessalonica. 00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.500 She wants to say 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.319 Thessalonica. 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.360 I'll let you guys 00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.079 correct us later 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:23.740 after the service. 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:25.279 For even in Thessalonica 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.339 you sent once 00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:27.299 and again 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:28.920 unto my necessity. 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.819 In verse 16 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:32.120 the Philippian church 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:33.059 sets the example 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.839 for faithful 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:35.740 repetitive giving. 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.380 It wasn't a one time 00:20:37.380 --> 00:20:37.779 offering. 00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:39.120 Once and again 00:20:39.120 --> 00:20:39.539 he says 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:41.019 over and over 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:42.000 you sent 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.960 to my need 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:44.660 in Thessalonica. 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.319 Even after Paul 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.299 had left Philippi 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:49.460 Acts 17 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.099 tells us 00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:50.740 that he continued 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:53.039 on to Thessalonica 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:53.640 and he stayed 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.259 there for a few 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:54.579 months 00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:55.000 and in his 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.599 months there 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:57.180 multiple times 00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:57.960 this church 00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.740 invested 00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.660 helped 00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:00.359 gave 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:01.039 to what 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:01.819 he and his 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.599 team were doing. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.640 So in verse 15 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.740 Paul commended 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:06.539 them for sharing 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:07.180 in the work 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:07.960 of the gospel 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:08.960 but in verse 16 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:09.900 he commends 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:11.019 them for ministering 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:11.740 specifically 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:13.420 to his need. 00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:15.240 He says 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:15.940 you sent 00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:16.900 unto my 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.960 necessity 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:19.140 he said. 00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:20.660 This further 00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.779 reveals the spirit 00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:23.140 of the Philippians 00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:23.460 giving. 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.160 They had a passion 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:26.160 for gospel ministry 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.759 but they also 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.880 had a great passion 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:30.019 for meeting 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:30.620 the needs 00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:31.700 of others. 00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:34.079 Even if it 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:34.819 meant stepping 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.600 into the realm 00:21:35.600 --> 00:21:36.319 of poverty 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:37.079 themselves 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:38.220 they had a 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:38.759 completely 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:40.259 outward focus 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:40.940 in giving. 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.039 It wasn't about 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:42.960 what they could get. 00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:43.480 It wasn't about 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:43.960 what they could 00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:44.559 build up for 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:44.960 themselves. 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:45.579 It was about 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:46.259 what they could 00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:47.079 give not only 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.819 the gospel work 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:48.359 but to help 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:49.299 meet the needs 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.480 of other people. 00:21:51.199 --> 00:21:51.679 And this wasn't 00:21:51.679 --> 00:21:52.359 the only time 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:53.099 that the Philippians 00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:53.819 cared for others' 00:21:53.919 --> 00:21:54.179 needs. 00:21:54.639 --> 00:21:55.439 It's a pattern 00:21:55.439 --> 00:21:56.240 throughout the 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:56.460 scripture. 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:56.859 In fact 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.799 in Romans chapter 00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.799 15 Paul's 00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.379 writing to the 00:21:59.379 --> 00:21:59.899 Roman church 00:21:59.899 --> 00:22:00.399 about how he 00:22:00.399 --> 00:22:01.059 desires to 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:01.960 come to them 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.899 and visit with 00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:03.319 them but he 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:03.839 couldn't write 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:04.759 then because 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.439 he was taking 00:22:05.439 --> 00:22:06.679 a gift from 00:22:06.679 --> 00:22:07.359 the church in 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:08.319 Philippi to 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.240 the poor church 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.000 in Jerusalem. 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.000 Here's what he 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.480 said in Romans 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:11.939 15. 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:12.799 At present 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.480 however I am 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:13.919 going to 00:22:13.919 --> 00:22:15.339 Jerusalem bringing 00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.199 aid to the 00:22:16.199 --> 00:22:16.639 saints. 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:18.099 For Macedonia 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.899 and Achaia 00:22:18.899 --> 00:22:19.460 have been 00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.139 pleased to 00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:20.679 make some 00:22:20.679 --> 00:22:21.339 contribution 00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:22.579 for the poor 00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:23.240 among the 00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:23.659 saints at 00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:24.079 Jerusalem. 00:22:24.679 --> 00:22:25.119 For they 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:25.759 were pleased 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.279 to do it 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:27.299 and indeed 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:27.939 they owe 00:22:27.939 --> 00:22:28.480 it to them 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.059 Paul said. 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:29.859 For if the 00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:30.639 Gentiles have 00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:31.319 come to share 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:31.960 in the spiritual 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:33.220 blessings they 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:34.139 ought also to 00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:34.699 be a service 00:22:34.699 --> 00:22:35.419 to them in 00:22:35.419 --> 00:22:37.019 material blessings. 00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:37.960 They had a 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:38.599 passion to meet 00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.039 the needs of 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.919 others specifically 00:22:39.919 --> 00:22:40.519 to meet the 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.019 needs of other 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:42.059 believers and of 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:43.199 other churches and 00:22:43.199 --> 00:22:43.619 we ought to have 00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:44.480 that same passion. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:46.259 there's three 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:46.740 ways I wrote 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.120 down this 00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:48.819 week that our 00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.480 giving our 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.400 regular faithful 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:51.079 giving as a 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:52.019 church helps to 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:52.480 meet the needs 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:52.920 of others. 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:54.799 First our giving 00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.539 helps to meet the 00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:55.940 needs of the 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.220 poor. 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.880 It helps actually 00:22:57.880 --> 00:22:58.599 go to meet the 00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.599 needs of people in 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.400 our church and 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.160 people in our 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:02.759 community that need 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:04.440 help and we have a 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:06.059 heart for that and 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.740 we want to continue 00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.519 to have a heart for 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:07.779 that. 00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:09.400 One of the 00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.420 consistent descriptions 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.279 of the church in the 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.639 New Testament is this 00:23:12.639 --> 00:23:13.420 realm of meeting 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:14.259 needs for one 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:14.599 another. 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:15.940 Flip with me just 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:17.200 quickly over to the 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:18.099 left to Acts chapter 00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:18.460 2. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:19.779 I'm sure you're 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.519 familiar well with 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.639 the, very familiar 00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:22.240 with the passage 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.740 itself. 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.779 It's a fantastic 00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:26.579 description of what 00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.539 the character of the 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:29.039 church is supposed 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.579 to be. 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.359 Acts chapter 2, 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.980 look with me at 00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:35.420 verse 44. 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.180 Luke writes, 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.920 all that believed 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:41.099 worked together. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:42.379 There's a unity 00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:42.779 here. 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.359 And they had all 00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:45.299 things in common 00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:47.119 and they sold their 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:48.759 possessions and goods 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:50.220 and parted them to 00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:52.200 all men as every man 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:53.240 had a need. 00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.559 One of the primary 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.879 characteristics of the 00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:57.099 early church was that 00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:57.980 they were willing to 00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:59.759 take their excess and 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.740 do away with it in 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.759 order that those less 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.839 fortunate in the church 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.899 could actually have the 00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:04.899 basic necessities of 00:24:04.899 --> 00:24:05.220 life. 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.379 This wasn't communal 00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:08.240 living in the sense 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:08.940 that they pulled all 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:09.740 their stuff together and 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:10.639 everybody had the same 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:11.300 exact thing. 00:24:11.520 --> 00:24:12.180 There were still some 00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:12.880 people that had more 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:13.880 than others but those 00:24:13.880 --> 00:24:14.720 who had excess were 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.720 willing to give up that 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.980 excess in order to meet 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.800 the needs of those that 00:24:17.800 --> 00:24:18.560 didn't have a lot. 00:24:18.800 --> 00:24:19.440 That should be our 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.660 heart as a church. 00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:21.480 That should be our 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:21.720 heart. 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.759 We give through the 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:23.640 church in order to help 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:25.360 others in the church or 00:24:25.360 --> 00:24:26.380 even we give just 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:27.320 personally to other 00:24:27.320 --> 00:24:28.140 people in the church 00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:29.380 that we see have a 00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:29.540 need. 00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:30.580 This is to be the heart 00:24:30.580 --> 00:24:32.520 of believers and of 00:24:32.520 --> 00:24:33.020 Christians. 00:24:33.600 --> 00:24:34.420 Our giving helps to do 00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:34.660 that. 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.820 Our giving supports 00:24:35.820 --> 00:24:36.660 ministers of the 00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:37.100 gospel. 00:24:37.099 --> 00:24:38.879 The New Testament 00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:40.299 teaches that the 00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.199 regular giving of the 00:24:41.199 --> 00:24:42.679 church is to provide a 00:24:42.679 --> 00:24:43.879 living for pastors and 00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:44.519 missionaries. 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:46.879 While not every pastor is 00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:48.339 able to survive on the 00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:49.039 income of the church 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:50.759 alone, it should be the 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:52.119 desire and goal for the 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:53.519 church to provide a 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.459 living for those who 00:24:54.459 --> 00:24:54.899 lead it. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:55.839 And the scripture is 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:56.519 clear in that. 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.319 Our giving helps to do 00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:58.659 that. 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:00.039 Not just for me. 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.599 It helps to give to the 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:02.659 missionaries that we love, 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:04.179 the people that we want to 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:04.460 help. 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:06.539 It helps ministers of the 00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.759 gospel just like the 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:09.360 Philippians helped Paul and 00:25:09.360 --> 00:25:09.860 his team. 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:12.160 Thirdly, our giving supports 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:13.860 the needs of church 00:25:13.860 --> 00:25:14.400 ministry. 00:25:16.340 --> 00:25:17.340 It's through our regular 00:25:17.340 --> 00:25:18.440 giving of the congregation 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:20.060 that we're able to rent a 00:25:20.060 --> 00:25:21.799 facility to meet in, to pay 00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.960 the rent and pay the bills, 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:25.240 for us to have tools that 00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:26.120 help us to preach the 00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:27.820 gospel, to supply basic 00:25:27.820 --> 00:25:29.600 needs like outreach materials 00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:31.039 and church Bibles that 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.980 people can use that won't 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:33.480 have one, or service guides, 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.660 other things that help us. 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.880 All of these things go to 00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:36.960 meet the needs, and that's a 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.559 part of it. 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:39.539 They gave to his necessity. 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.059 I was listening. 00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.559 You've heard me talk about 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:42.940 often. 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:44.839 Alistair Begg is probably my 00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:46.259 favorite preacher, and I 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.160 listen to him preach a lot, 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:47.940 and I listened to him 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:49.339 earlier this week preach on 00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:51.000 this passage, and in it he 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:52.059 talked about two different 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.420 types of sharing or two 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.319 different types of giving. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:56.319 He used different words, but 00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:57.940 he said basically there's 00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:59.940 reciprocal sharing and 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:01.599 there is necessary sharing. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:04.559 Reciprocal sharing is giving 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:06.539 on the basis of reciprocity. 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:08.179 For instance, you would have 00:26:08.179 --> 00:26:09.379 somebody over to your house, a 00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:10.339 family that's similar to 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:10.719 yours. 00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:12.579 They come over and you share 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:14.240 with them your home and your 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:16.579 food and the material things 00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:18.799 that you have, knowing that at 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:20.159 some point, maybe a few weeks 00:26:20.159 --> 00:26:21.240 later, they're going to invite 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:22.459 you over to their house, and 00:26:22.459 --> 00:26:23.319 they're going to share in the 00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:25.099 same things with you that you 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:26.599 have shared in with them. 00:26:26.639 --> 00:26:28.059 You share with one another by 00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:30.039 reciprocating acts of 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:31.000 kindness, and there's nothing 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.799 wrong with this kind of 00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:31.980 sharing. 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:33.480 It's actually necessary and 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.379 good, and most of us are going 00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:36.099 to be involved with that a lot 00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:36.500 in our lives. 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:37.379 That's a good thing. 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:38.319 That's what the church was 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:39.680 doing, this reciprocal 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.819 sharing. 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:43.299 It's not that you share because 00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:45.399 it will be reciprocated, but it's 00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:47.700 not so much of a gift as it is 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.480 kind of a trade-off. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.420 You're helping one another. 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.299 You're sharing with one 00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:50.519 another. 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:52.039 Secondly, there's necessary 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:54.440 sharing, and this is the other 00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:55.079 side to that. 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:57.559 It's giving on the basis of no 00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:58.819 reciprocity at all. 00:26:58.819 --> 00:27:01.259 For instance, you invite someone 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:02.579 to your home who's less 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.019 fortunate. 00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:05.439 You share your home and your 00:27:05.439 --> 00:27:06.759 food and your time with them 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:08.359 knowing full well that they'll 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:09.980 never be able to reciprocate 00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.619 that kindness. 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:14.539 It's the kind of giving that 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:15.779 should mark the church. 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:18.259 We should be more than willing 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:20.159 to help those that cannot help 00:27:20.159 --> 00:27:23.619 us and that cannot benefit us in 00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:24.039 any way. 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.939 And to be truthful, this kind of 00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:29.059 sharing is the most Christ-infused 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:30.240 form of giving. 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:33.559 Jesus sets the example in this. 00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:36.059 As we studied so often in 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:38.400 Philippians chapter 2, who made 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.920 himself of no reputation. 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:42.500 He set aside the glories of heaven, 00:27:42.860 --> 00:27:44.980 and he shared himself with us, and 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:46.960 he took on our sin, and he took on 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:49.440 our punishment, shared in that with 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:51.360 us, knowing full well that we could 00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:53.100 never reciprocate that kindness for 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:53.340 him. 00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:55.379 There is never anything we could do 00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:57.559 that could repay him for what he 00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.399 has done for us. 00:27:58.559 --> 00:28:00.339 He sets the tone for this giving 00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:01.740 for us, and we're to take that 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:03.299 example of Christ in the gospel, 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:05.000 and we're to demonstrate that to 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.319 others. 00:28:05.699 --> 00:28:06.899 Pick somebody in your life. 00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:08.740 Find somebody in the church. 00:28:08.919 --> 00:28:10.959 Find somebody in your community that 00:28:10.959 --> 00:28:12.959 you can bless with the gospel of 00:28:12.959 --> 00:28:14.799 Christ, knowing full well that 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:16.059 they'll never be able to pay you 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.339 back. 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:19.419 They shared in the work of the 00:28:19.419 --> 00:28:19.779 gospel. 00:28:20.439 --> 00:28:22.379 They shared in the needs of others, 00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:24.860 thirdly, and finally, they shared in 00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:26.220 the fruit of the gospel. 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.880 They shared in the fruit of the 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:28.200 gospel. 00:28:28.580 --> 00:28:29.620 Look at verse 17. 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:33.600 Paul says, I'm not saying this 00:28:33.600 --> 00:28:36.400 because I desire you to send more, 00:28:37.340 --> 00:28:41.760 but I desire that fruit may abound to 00:28:41.760 --> 00:28:42.460 your account. 00:28:42.820 --> 00:28:45.380 Fruit may abound to your account. 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:48.720 He wasn't manipulating them to send 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:50.620 more money or to keep the checks 00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:52.939 coming. 00:28:52.939 --> 00:28:56.500 He was reminding them that what they 00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:58.119 have done in their sacrificial, 00:28:58.419 --> 00:29:00.859 faithful giving will be rewarded with 00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:03.079 fruitfulness in gospel ministry. 00:29:04.459 --> 00:29:05.979 It's not that they would be able to 00:29:05.979 --> 00:29:07.559 look back and think, okay, I gave a 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:09.259 hundred bucks to the Lord this week. 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:10.379 That means the Lord's going to give me 00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:11.819 a hundred bucks back in some way this 00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:11.979 week. 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:14.259 That's not what this giving was about. 00:29:14.439 --> 00:29:15.859 That's not the fruitfulness of giving. 00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:17.639 The fruitfulness of giving is that as 00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:19.740 we give to the Lord, he provides gospel 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:21.779 fruit in the places that this money 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:24.319 goes and that it goes to support his 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:24.779 work. 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:27.599 I desire fruit that may abound to your 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:27.919 account. 00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:31.839 This is an expansion really on their 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:32.859 share in the work. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:35.879 Not only could they participate in gospel 00:29:35.879 --> 00:29:37.779 work around the world, but whatever fruit 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:40.139 God produced through that work would be 00:29:40.139 --> 00:29:41.240 credited to their account. 00:29:41.679 --> 00:29:43.159 Here's what's so awesome about this. 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:46.920 They not only shared in the work, they 00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:49.060 shared in the results of the work. 00:29:50.380 --> 00:29:52.100 How exciting is that for us as 00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:52.480 believers? 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:54.800 That as we give faithfully to the Lord 00:29:54.800 --> 00:29:56.420 week in and week out and we send this 00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:58.720 money to help reach the people in our 00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:00.100 area with the gospel and we send it 00:30:00.100 --> 00:30:01.759 across the world to various missionaries, 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:04.140 we can rejoice and share in the results 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:05.180 of that gospel work. 00:30:05.300 --> 00:30:07.060 As people are saved, as people are 00:30:07.060 --> 00:30:09.120 baptized and added to the church, we 00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:11.140 can rejoice because we got to have a 00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:13.780 part in that, not in a prideful way, but 00:30:13.780 --> 00:30:14.780 in a humble way. 00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:17.220 We can rejoice with them and share in 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:20.220 the results of that ministry. 00:30:21.100 --> 00:30:23.580 We'll be rewarded by God for the fruit 00:30:23.580 --> 00:30:26.900 that he bore even when we didn't know 00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:28.180 he was using us. 00:30:28.840 --> 00:30:29.720 How awesome is that? 00:30:31.300 --> 00:30:33.300 Many of us will go through life and 00:30:33.300 --> 00:30:34.820 we'll labor and we'll serve and we'll 00:30:34.820 --> 00:30:36.920 give and not just in material giving, but 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:38.640 in other ways, our time and our efforts, 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:40.100 giving to gospel work. 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:42.680 And we may rarely see the fruit of that 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:44.259 ourselves, but it doesn't mean that the 00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.340 fruit of it isn't going out. 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:48.220 The blessing is one day we will see the 00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:48.660 fruit of it. 00:30:49.540 --> 00:30:52.240 One day in eternity we'll rejoice with 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:54.780 those people who came to Christ because 00:30:54.780 --> 00:30:57.320 we had a small part in giving or we gave 00:30:57.320 --> 00:30:59.420 them a church invitation or we gave them a 00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:00.480 Bible or whatever it was. 00:31:00.600 --> 00:31:02.620 We will get to rejoice in that fruit even 00:31:02.620 --> 00:31:04.140 if we don't see it now. 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:06.960 And Paul desired that for this Philippian 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:08.960 church. 00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:09.960 They shared in the work, they shared in the 00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:12.259 needs, and they shared in the fruit. 00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:15.660 And as we close, I want to take just a 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:20.279 minute to reflect on how we as Lakeside 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:23.539 Bible Church have experienced this blessing 00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:25.180 of sharing in the gospel. 00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:29.180 It's because of the faithful giving of 00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:31.180 other congregations that we've been able to 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:32.319 get started as a church. 00:31:32.319 --> 00:31:37.179 Every month there are 12 different churches 00:31:37.179 --> 00:31:41.039 that send our congregation financial support. 00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:44.500 And there are many more than that that gave 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:46.980 gifts at some point over the last year, year 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:49.359 and a half, in order to help us buy the truck and 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:51.519 trailer that we use every week, that have bought 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:53.200 the sound equipment that we have and the 00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:55.119 backdrops and all the things that you see. 00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:57.059 They've helped us provide this. 00:31:57.119 --> 00:32:00.139 That was out of their generosity that we were 00:32:00.140 --> 00:32:00.940 able to do that. 00:32:01.840 --> 00:32:04.440 It's because of their generosity that we even 00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:07.320 have an opportunity to consider a potential lease 00:32:07.320 --> 00:32:08.220 agreement in a building. 00:32:09.100 --> 00:32:12.980 We as a church have been the beneficiaries of this 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:13.620 kind of giving. 00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:17.820 And it came from many congregations that know full 00:32:17.820 --> 00:32:21.820 well that at least in the immediate time, we're 00:32:21.820 --> 00:32:24.800 incapable of reciprocating that giving back. 00:32:25.140 --> 00:32:26.340 Why do they do that? 00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:27.980 Because of the gospel. 00:32:28.939 --> 00:32:30.779 Because they're passionate about the work. 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:33.819 They want to share in the work of the gospel that we're 00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:34.959 doing here in Cornelius. 00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:38.119 They want to share in the fruit that God may provide in his 00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:41.059 own way and in his own purposes through our church. 00:32:41.159 --> 00:32:44.059 They want to share in the needs of other believers across 00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:46.959 the state and across the country and across the world that 00:32:46.959 --> 00:32:50.759 need basic supplies in order to take the gospel around the 00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:50.959 world. 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:52.299 They're passionate about that. 00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:54.960 So it doesn't bother them to sacrifice of themselves. 00:32:55.779 --> 00:33:00.019 They give knowing that they'll never get it back in return. 00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:02.359 They give because they're passionate about the gospel. 00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.500 It's an investment. 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:07.879 But then we've also been able to share with others. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.139 And I love this. 00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:14.559 Even in the short life of our church, we've been able to help 00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:14.980 a lot. 00:33:15.099 --> 00:33:16.960 We've been able to give a lot for a small church. 00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:20.980 And I want you to know this message and the context of it, 00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:23.840 especially as we get into next week, this isn't corrective on 00:33:23.840 --> 00:33:24.259 my part. 00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:26.980 I feel blessed to pastor a very generous church. 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:31.759 And I'm thankful for each of you that faithfully give. 00:33:32.620 --> 00:33:37.340 Some every week faithfully give generously to our ministry. 00:33:38.100 --> 00:33:41.779 It's because of your faithful giving that this year we've been 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:44.940 able to send more than $5,000 to other missionaries and other 00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:45.539 church planners. 00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:49.759 Because you have given, you get to share in the gospel work of 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:52.620 these ministries that we've been able to partner with. 00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:53.880 And we rejoice in that. 00:33:55.080 --> 00:33:59.299 It's because of your generosity that I'm able to fully commit my 00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.960 time to be your pastor. 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:04.960 And I don't have to work a second job right now. 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:06.320 That's because of your generosity. 00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:10.099 It's because of your generosity that we're able to save every week 00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:13.059 for the future of our ministry, whether it be at the place that's 00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:15.380 just down the road in Cornelius, whether it be in another place, 00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:18.519 we get to save right now because you are generous in giving. 00:34:18.739 --> 00:34:20.179 So thank you for your giving. 00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:23.739 And like Paul, I want to encourage you to continue in that. 00:34:25.219 --> 00:34:27.779 Because I want to see that fruit applied to your account, 00:34:28.440 --> 00:34:32.779 to the account of our church, as we faithfully seek to partner with 00:34:32.779 --> 00:34:36.799 people in the gospel, as we seek to meet the needs of others, 00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:41.500 and as we seek to share in the fruit of the gospel as well. 00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:45.440 I want us to care about meeting the needs of people. 00:34:46.760 --> 00:34:49.660 I want our church to share in the fruit of God's blessing. 00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:54.460 And I want all of this because I truly believe it's what God desires for us. 00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:58.699 Thank you for listening to this sermon made available by Lakeside Bible Church. 00:34:59.139 --> 00:35:00.800 Feel free to share it wherever you'd like. 00:35:01.340 --> 00:35:05.679 Please do not charge for it or alter it in any way without express written consent 00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:07.099 from Lakeside Bible Church. 00:35:07.659 --> 00:35:10.760 Don't forget to visit us online at lakesidebible.church 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:15.420 or find us on Facebook and Instagram by searching for Lakeside Bible NC. 00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:18.139 If you live in the Charlotte or Lake Norman area, 00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:20.519 we'd love for you to attend one of our worship services. 00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:22.900 We meet every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. 00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:24.240 We'd love to meet you.