Missions Minded – Philippians 4:10, 14-20
MISSIONS MINDED
DATE: 10/24/10 pm
TEXT: Philippians 4:10, 14-20
INTRODUCTION:
As we close out the Book of Philippians,
Paul thanks the Church there for the gifts they had sent him
We find here a wonderful example of Missions Giving and Missionary Support
Most folks have a great respect for Missions and missionaries
But praise and respect will not send them to a field or sustain them while there
It takes more than Compliments, It takes Cash!
It requires more than Praise, It takes Provisions!
It has been said that more money is spent each year on chewing gum and dog food than on missions
Ill. When asked to identify the single most important responsibility of a Christian, one survey showed that:
34% of adults said that worship was the top priority
25% said that developing relationships with other Christians was most important
Only 11% said that evangelism was the priority
This kind of attitude is often reflected in how we give to world evangelization
In the final words of our Lord, Jesus gave the command that everyone was to be involved in the matter of World Evangelization
We read in Matthew 28:19, 20 - “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world”
Jesus said that every believer is to be a missionary
Now, I understand that not everyone can go to the mission field or is called to be a missionary
But everyone is to be involved in World Missions
You ask, how can that be?
You can be involved through your Prayers and your Giving
Paul had been sent out by the Church at Antioch as history's first missionary
The Church at Philippi had been involved in supporting him financially
As he closes his letter to them,
He thanks them for their financial support
He not only thanks them for their support,
But he also gives us the Reasons for and the Results of giving to God’s work
~~~Prayer~~~
Notice:
I. THE “PERSONAL EXAMPLE” OF GIVING!
Paul gives us two examples
First, we see:
A. A ‘Thrilling’ Example
We read in v.10 - “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last your care of me hath flourished again”
Paul speaks of their “care” for him
The word describes the act of taking thought
It speaks of their Interest in, and their Concern for Paul
We will see their Genuine Concern Revealed not in just what they Thought; but in what they Did
1. Paul describes their caring for him as Hindered
He says their “care” of him had “flourished again”
The word “flourished” means, to sprout, blossom again
It seems it had been a while since they had cared for Paul
But now their caring had blossomed again
Their lack of caring over a certain period of time had not been because they had ceased to care
Paul described it as they - “lacked opportunity”
It’s not that they did not want to help Paul
But they had been Hindered in caring for Paul as they wished
We need to realize there was no US Post Office, No Money grams, no way of communicating like today
Truth: What is sad; is that we have Opportunity to give, but we lack the Desire
We have a Chance to give, but lack the Concern
The believers at Philippi wanted to give, but were hindered from doing so
This was not a case where someone was saying,
“If I had a million dollars, I would give such and such to God”
This was a case where they Wanted to give, Tried to give,
But were prevented from doing so
Many believers don't need a new wallet
They just need a converted wallet
Many need a heart that looks upon God's work and says,
“I want to give!”
Turn to II Corinthians 8:1-5
2. Paul also spoke of their caring as Helpful
Look down at v.14 – “Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction”
Then in v.16 he says – “For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity”
Time and time again they had sent gifts to Paul
Is there no wonder why Paul is Thrilled with these folks (faithfulness always encourages the heart)
Their care had been an act of communicating with Paul's “affliction”
The word “communicate” means, to participate with someone, to become a partner or companion with
They have become part of what Paul was going through and doing
By their caring they were sharing in Paul's “affliction”
They were also providing for his needs in his time of “affliction”
As v.16 states, they had sent to his “necessity”
They had helped supply the needs Paul had in his life
Truth: Here is the Purpose in Mission Giving
We give, that the needs of missionaries are met
The missionary could never get to, or survive on the field,
If it were not for the faithful giving of God's people
There would not be a missionary on the field today if God's people didn't financially support missions
The result would be, thousands going to hell every week!
Ill. When David Livingstone went to Africa, a Scottish woman who had saved thirty pounds came and presented the money to him. She said, “I want you to save yourself needless toil and exposure by hiring a competent servant who will go with you wherever you go and share your sacrifices and dangers” With the money, Livingstone hired his faithful servant Sebantino. Later, in the heart of Africa, a lion attacked Livingstone crushing the bones of his left arm. It was Sebantino who at the risk of his own life saved Livingstone. Little did that Scottish woman know the needs she would meet in Livingstone's life through her gift. Yet, that is the purpose of our giving--to meet the needs of those who serve as missionary's.
Let me paraphrase what Paul says in v.10
“I’m thrilled to death that you have seen fit to take care of my needs”
We not only see A ‘Thrilling Example’ of Giving
But we also see:
B. A ‘Troubling’ Example
Paul said in v.15 – “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only”
It seems that the Philippians Church provided the only financial support Paul received
→ Where was the Church at Antioch that had sent Paul out as a missionary?
→ Where were the Churches at Galatia and Rome?
→ Where were the hundreds of people that Paul had led to Christ?
Paul tells us - “no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving”
Truth: This is a Troubling Example of Giving
It was no doubt disturbing to Paul and should be disturbing to us
There were times when Paul had to work making tents just to make ends meet
It is troubling when so many Christians give so little to missions
As a pastor, I would not want to meet God having not led this Church to give to missions
I would not want to meet God as a Christian that had not given to the cause of World Evangelization
We not only see THE “PERSONAL EXAMPLE” OF GIVING
But also:
II. THE “PROPER EVALUATION” OF GIVING!
Paul tells us that giving is not a Burden but a Blessing
He speaks of giving in terms that are Delightful and not Distressful
He helps us to look at our giving in the right perspective
He tells us how to Properly Evaluate our Giving
First, we see:
A. It’s an Act of ‘Spiritual Accumulation’
Notice the words “giving and receiving” in v.15
These words were bookkeeping terms that referred to the Credit and Debit side of a Ledger
Paul describes their giving as a Debit on their Material Account, but a Credit to their Spiritual Account
We read in v.17 – “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account”
Paul was not the kind of person that went around begging
The word “desire” carried the idea that it was not his character or habit to beg for money
When he asked for God's people to support him,
He was not begging, but asking them to make a heavenly investment
The statement, “that fruit may abound to your account”
Was a term used in the money markets to speak of interest which accumulated on an account
Paul is describing our giving to missions as an interest bearing account
The fruit of his ministry was fruit that was being credited to their account
Their gift was an investment in his ministry and they were drawing spiritual interest off his fruit
Do you realize that when you give to missions that you are drawing spiritual interest off the labor and fruit of the missionaries
Every time someone gets saved through the ministry of a missionary that you have financially helped,
That soul is being credited to your account
Ill. Dr. A.C. Dickerson wrote:
A faithful steward would I be And gather money all for Thee
To use it for the Christ I love And thus grow rich in heaven above
Revelation 14:13 – “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them”
If you are searching for an investment with the highest possible yield,
Giving to God's work is the best place to put your money
It’s an Act of ‘Spiritual Accumulation’
Secondly, we see:
B. It’s an Act of ‘Spiritual Adoration’
We read in v.18 – “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God”
Paul told them that the gift they had sent by Epaphroditus was like a sacrifice that had been offered to God
He used words that described the burnt-offering, the meal-offering, and the peace-offering of the OT
These were all voluntary offerings and were offered as an act of worship and adoration
Our giving is an act of worship
It comes from a heart that says,
“Lord, you gave your Son for me, and I give what I have for you”
Our giving says that we love God and adore Him
Why should we give and give to missions?
It shows our love for God and how much we adore Him
Ill. Andrew Fuller was helping raise money to send William Carey to India.
Fuller asked a friend to make a contribution. The man said, "Since it is for you, Andrew, here is five pounds." Fuller said, "If you are giving that for me, I must refuse." The giver got the point and said, "Here, take this ten pounds since it is for the Lord."
This is how we ought to Evaluate Our Giving
It is an act of ‘Spiritual Accumulation’ and ‘Spiritual Adoration’
THE “PERSONAL EXAMPLE” OF GIVING
THE “PROPER EVALUATION” OF GIVING!
Finally, we see:
III. THE “PROMISED EFFECT” OF GIVING!
We read in v.19 – “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”
Here is a great promise
Many a saint and servant has lived by this great promise of God
Yet, it is a promise that is misused and misunderstood
Let’s look closer at the promise
First, notice:
A. The ‘Content’ of the Promise
Ill. D.L. Moody called this promise, “God's Checkbook”
He described it this way:
“My God” - the name of the firm printed on the check
“Shall supply” - the promise to pay
“All your need” - the amount to be paid
“According to His riches” - the deposit in the account against which the check is drawn
“In glory” - the address of the bank
“By Christ Jesus” - the signature which appears on the check
In short, God has promised to meet ALL our needs in Christ Jesus
Furthermore, we see:
B. The ‘Context’ of the Promise
The context in which this promise is found indicates that God's supply is predicated on the condition of one giving to God's work
The promise is that IF we give, God will give
If a person will not give to God's work,
They can't rightly claim this promise
Nor is God obliged to
Paul was saying to the believers at Philippi,
“Because you met my need, God will meet your need”
CONCLUSION
Are you Mission Minded?
Do you give to the servants of God?
Do you give to support the work of God?
There are great reasons to give!
Try it
I believe you will like it
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