Reviving Concern: Generosity and Partnership in the Gospel
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I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I’m speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. [00:17:36]
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share in my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. [00:02:30]
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. [00:03:00]
We want revival. Now consider here what revival happened at the church at Philippi. What type of revival did they have? Verse 10: I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length—so this revival was at length—you have revived your concern for me. What type of revival? They have a revival of concern for Paul. [00:06:11]
The Philippians gave sacrificially and here your distinction is to realize generous giving is not the same thing as sacrificially giving. If I have $100,000 and I put $5,000 and I give $5,000 to a need, that’s generous, but that’s not sacrificial because I have $100,000. What would be sacrificial is if I took $95,000. [00:24:14]
Paul says in Philippians 1 that’s what their partnership was about: verse 5, your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. You see, we’re not talking about causes and partnerships like finding a cure for cancer. We’re talking about partnering and telling people the cure for their sins, which already has been found. [00:26:49]
Paul appealed to Christ. He knew you give people a sense of Christ, who did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself and took the form of a servant. You show them Jesus Christ and him crucified. That will affect what they think about what they do. [00:29:48]
Paul says in the beginning of the gospel and in chapter 1, verse 5, we already read it: your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. This church had been partnering with Paul since the beginning, and here they revive their concern again to him, and they sent him gifts, which we know there were financial gifts. [00:32:56]
From God’s perspective, our giving is a pleasing sacrifice. We see this in verse 18. He says halfway through, the gifts you sent, what were they? A fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. A sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. Giving to Paul was a sacrifice, a sacrificial offering. [00:37:41]
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. Not that I seek the gift. Paul wasn’t seeking the gift, again, money. Since it’s a sensitive topic, he’s trying to clarify. Not speaking of being in need, guys. I’ve learned to be content making tents. [00:40:48]
I think of Luke 12. Jesus said, sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourself with money bags that do not grow old, with a treasure in heaven that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. You think about 1 Timothy 6, the uncertainty of riches. [00:45:57]
Mark 9: Whoever gives a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. So what’s God’s perspective? It’s pleasing to him, and it’s an eternal investment. There are eternal rewards. Thirdly, God’s perspective on our giving is accompanied with a promise. [00:47:06]
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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share in my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. [00:02:30]
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. [00:03:00]
We want revival. Now consider here what revival happened at the church at Philippi. What type of revival did they have? Verse 10: I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length—so this revival was at length—you have revived your concern for me. What type of revival? They have a revival of concern for Paul. [00:06:11]
The Philippians gave sacrificially and here your distinction is to realize generous giving is not the same thing as sacrificially giving. If I have $100,000 and I put $5,000 and I give $5,000 to a need, that’s generous, but that’s not sacrificial because I have $100,000. What would be sacrificial is if I took $95,000. [00:24:14]
Paul says in Philippians 1 that’s what their partnership was about: verse 5, your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. You see, we’re not talking about causes and partnerships like finding a cure for cancer. We’re talking about partnering and telling people the cure for their sins, which already has been found. [00:26:49]
Paul appealed to Christ. He knew you give people a sense of Christ, who did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself and took the form of a servant. You show them Jesus Christ and him crucified. That will affect what they think about what they do. [00:29:48]
Paul says in the beginning of the gospel and in chapter 1, verse 5, we already read it: your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. This church had been partnering with Paul since the beginning, and here they revive their concern again to him, and they sent him gifts, which we know there were financial gifts. [00:32:56]
From God’s perspective, our giving is a pleasing sacrifice. We see this in verse 18. He says halfway through, the gifts you sent, what were they? A fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. A sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. Giving to Paul was a sacrifice, a sacrificial offering. [00:37:41]
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. Not that I seek the gift. Paul wasn’t seeking the gift, again, money. Since it’s a sensitive topic, he’s trying to clarify. Not speaking of being in need, guys. I’ve learned to be content making tents. [00:40:48]
I think of Luke 12. Jesus said, sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourself with money bags that do not grow old, with a treasure in heaven that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. You think about 1 Timothy 6, the uncertainty of riches. [00:45:57]
Mark 9: Whoever gives a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. So what’s God’s perspective? It’s pleasing to him, and it’s an eternal investment. There are eternal rewards. Thirdly, God’s perspective on our giving is accompanied with a promise. [00:47:06]
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