Text: Philippians 4:14-20
Opening Statement:
Why is it so important to support the gospel financially? This morning I would like to look at five things from our passage that happens when you support the gospel with your finances. And I pray they will be an encouragement to you as you grow in the grace of giving to the Lord.
WHEN YOU SUPPORT THE GOSPEL WITH YOUR FINANCES:
1) You Further the Spread of the Gospel (14-15)
Paul recalls how the Philippian church supported him financially in the early days of their acquaintance with the gospel.
We will never fulfill the Great Commission without shared sacrifice for the furtherance of the gospel. That’s your first encouragement to give to the Lord’s work this morning. When you support the gospel with your finances, you further the spread of the gospel.
2) You Supply the Needs of Christian Workers (16)
The people we support in missions are real people. Just like you they have real needs. They are not superhuman. They require food, clothing, medical attention, rest, relaxation, and support for their families. Trust me, none of them are getting rich off their work as missionaries. As partners in the gospel, we have the privilege of meeting their needs and making sure they are well provided for.
That’s our second encouragement this morning: when you support the gospel with your finances, you supply the needs of Christian workers.
3) You store up treasure in heaven (17)
Financial support of the gospel has a strange accounting procedure. What you give for the gospel gets credited back to your account. In fact, that treasure is earning compound interest!
How is your heavenly account looking these days? What does your heavenly ledger look like compared to your earthly ledger? That’s our third encouragement for giving this morning. When you support the gospel with your finances, you store up treasure in heaven.
4) Your Gift is an Act of Worship (18)
Paul moves from an accounting imagery to that of sacrifice. There is a spiritual dimension to giving that he does not want the Philippians to miss. The gifts from Philippi have not only supplied his need, but they are also a pleasing sacrifice of worship to God – they are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
And he wants them and us to understand that gifts are like sacrifices, laid on the altar to the glory of God.
This is our fourth encouragement in Christian giving this morning: When you support the gospel with your finances, your gift is an act of worship that is pleasing to God.
5) Your Gift is Met with a Promise (19)
With all this talk of giving sacrificially for the gospel, someone might ask: What will happen to my own needs if I support the work of the gospel financially? We have here a wonderful promise from God, a wonderful word of assurance, that God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ.
In the same way, we can be generous in our giving to the gospel, because God will more than supply our needs. God’s supply is infinite. He will meet your needs out of his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
This is a wonderful encouragement towards Christian giving. When you support the gospel with your finances, God promises to meet all your needs.
In Closing:
This is a fitting close not only to this section but to the whole letter. The bottom line is this. When you support the gospel, the work of the gospel goes forth, people are saved, and God is glorified.
There is no greater investment with no greater return than supporting the gospel with your finances. To God be the glory!
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