Series: Philippians
Sermon: “The Gift that Keeps on Giving”
Philippians 4:14-19
Pastor John Bright
Philippians 4 “14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
“A former archbishop of Canterbury arrived in New York. A journalist asked him, “Will you be visiting any of our nightclubs whilst you are here?” The archbishop mischievously replied, “Are there any night clubs here?” Next day a newspaper headline read: “Archbishop’s first question on arriving in New York: ‘Are there any night clubs here?’” How easy it is to misquote or misunderstand without a context!”
https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/72897/misconceptions-by-warner-pidgeon
In my last sermon, I talked a little bit about context. Today, I want to share more because we have another verse today that is often taken out of context. Context is like the “Big Picture” or what we talk about when we use the phrase – “Can’t see the forest for the trees.” If I tell you – “We have to read Philippians 4 verses 13 & 19 in light of the verses 11 & 12” – would you understand what I mean. Context is like a light. It is the light that keeps us from stumbling around in the dark. Context is the Big Picture and the Bible has an overall context:
There is one Creator – God
There is one Race – Humanity
There is one Problem – Sin
There is one Solution – Jesus Christ
The context helps us read our Bibles… and the times in which we live!
Paul begins by telling them they are united – v.14-16
“14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.
There are some differing beliefs about unity today. We are witnessing a time of plummeting viewership for professional sports as they seek to offer displays of unity with people of color before during and after the game. October 21st is Nation Unity Day in the schools where folks wear orange and speak out against bullying. And there are some folks who seek unity in all religions, even going so far as suggesting we adopt a single “One-World” religion. Just in case you have not read the end of the Bible – that last one is mentioned clearly as a part of the Last Days. Maybe that’s why Jesus told us: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Matt. 10:16
Paul is looking at their past dealings and their faithfulness. He feels a connection to them that comes from someone caring about you and your situation. They had helped him during his ongoing travels and now they have helped him while he is incarcerated. Have you ever noticed that we tend to expect folks to act or behave the way they did in the past? Paul is doing the same thing here.
Let me say this again – Paul has received help for what was necessary to meet his physical needs – he was not asking for a fancy car or a private jet. In v. 16, he uses this phrase – “for my necessities.” He would have had expenses when he traveled during his years in ministry. He would have had needs when getting settled in a new location. I can only imagine going from place to place like that… actually – I have experienced it as a UM pastor. In the old days they had a “Pounding” for the new pastor and family. When they arrived at the parsonage the cupboard would have a pound of flour and a pound of sugar. There would be supplies to help them while everyone settled into the new appointment. Today it tends to be gift cards and cleaning supplies. I have been at my current appointment for over a year and I still have not needed to buy most cleaning supplies because so many were donated when I moved here in 2019.
Paul had physical needs that were met by the Philippian’s generosity. He also had a need that was met by God – to be content no matter the circumstance that we heard about last week in v. 11 & 12: 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
So there is more to the gift than what we see – v. 17-18
“17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
Sometimes we can see the good our giving towards a physical need is able to accomplish. When a church helps to build a clinic in another country. When we support the efforts of feeding children through efforts like backpack ministries. Most of the time, we never see the end result of the ministries we support but that does not make us stop. Paul is making them aware that all his needs are being met… but there is more to the gifts they have sent.
We exist in the physical realm. I am sitting in a real chair and staring at the screen of a real computer as I record this video. As you watch this video, it is delivered to your screen by a means you do not see. There’s technology and people working behind the scenes. So we can’t always see everything we experience - right? We exist in the physical realm and we also have contact with the spiritual realm.
That’s where the angelic and demonic forces do their work. That’s where there is a “great cloud of witnesses” that Paul described in Hebrews 12:1. What happens in that spirit ream affects us here in this physical realm and vice versa – what we do in the physical realm has effects and consequences in the spirit realm.
Paul is using language here that is peeling back the veil from that other realm and it comes from the Old Testament:
Exodus 29:41 “And the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; and you shall offer with it the grain offering and the drink offering, as in the morning, for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.”
Isaiah 56:7
“Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
There are no more burnt offerings needed. None of the ladies at my churches that help with the paraments and candles and brass cleaning want to be cleaning up the blood of goats and doves every Sunday after worship. The blood of Jesus that was shed on the Cross of Calvary is the full and acceptable sacrifice for our sin. We can’t buy our way into heaven. Christ already paid the price of our eternal life…end of story! After we are saved, God calls us to be obedient to His Will and His Word. Paul put it this way in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Paul is equating their obedience in good works to the obedience of the Israelites to make proper sacrifices. Do we ever question if what we do matters to God? Let me assure you – IT MATTERS! Listen to Jesus message to the Church in Ephesus – Revelation 2 “2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.”
We are not in that day. The times we live in are very different. We are living in season of the Church that I like to call “The Great Experiment.” In the 2000 years of Christianity, there has never been a time when you could “claim to be a Christian” while also believing, saying and doing whatever you want. I still believe that God’s Word declares His desire for the Bride of Christ to be holy – not the harlot that runs for every way of the world – embracing it and bringing it into the church with the delusion that God will bless it.
There is more to our deeds and words than what we see in this realm! Now we move to
That other verse that needs context – v. 19
“19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Remember what I told you at the beginning? Just like verse 13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” - we need context for this verse. Last week I told you the context is verses 11 & 12 – “11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
Beyond the physical needs we have, there are far more important needs:
• Salvation – there is only one way to escape the flames of hell – Jesus made this clear when He walked on the earth: John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In the Early Church, the Apostles declared the same message: Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” I can offer you no other way – ever!
• Contentment and Peace – Once we are saved through the blood of Jesus and we have the Holy Spirit living within you and me, there will be joy and pain – there will be highs and lows – there will be mountain tops and valleys. The contentment Paul is proclaiming is God’s way for us to face everything that can possibly come our way. So why don’t we all have this?
We don’t all have this contentment and peace for the same reason we don’t all have salvation – it is necessary for us to accept each and every gift from God. We don’t live in a world where God can just make it so.
Have you ever heard someone say, “I would if I could, but I can’t so I won’t”? This is the means by which some try to make God to be uncaring about or not powerful enough in regard to human suffering. Before I go any further – my answer to the question of human suffering is always to remember we live in a fallen world until Jesus’ return and were it not for God’s grace it would be so much worse. But for those who question God’s goodness and power, they are creating a false premise along the lines of that famous smarty-pants question – “Can God create a rock so big that even He can’t move it?” The answer is NO - not when you ask the question that way.
God is not able to create anything larger than Himself – He created the Universe and can move it all. You see, God is not able to do anything that is against His nature. He allows us to make our own choices because He decided long ago to give us free will. You and I can choose to receive the gift of salvation. You and I can choose to receive the gifts He offers for every other need we have – even contentment and peace in the midst of every circumstance the world can throw our way.
If you want to make this all about your need to win the lottery or be the pastor of a church with 1000 folks on Sunday morning – you can go down that path. Many have done the same, taking it out of context and leaving themselves with a sense of growing disappointment and frustration. God offers us another way – a way to seek from Him all we need for our Journey in this world. He wants you to have that contentment and peace – today! Amen.
