FAITH GIVING

FAITH GIVING

Philippians 4:1-23

Philippians chapter four could be said to have two major themes

·  The first is dealing with worry and the way to avoid it.

·  This section is consumed with principle of faith giving.

I would like to suggest that the two themes are not unrelated.

After all, what is worry but the opposite of faith?

The chief way to learn not to worry is to grow in faith - when you believe God, you have no reason to worry.

We can learn, to believe and trust the Lord through the faithful practice of giving to His work through faith.

We have two main texts in the Word of God on the issue of faith giving.

·  The first is 2 Corinthians 8-9 and the context is giving to meet the needs of the struggling believers in Jerusalem

·  The second, in Philippians 4, is dealing specifically with giving to a missionary church planter.

Which leads me to believe that the lessons apply to any Christ honoring reason for giving.

In Philippians 4:10-19, Paul acknowledged gratefully, the financial support he had received from these Christians.

Let me show you four things he says about giving here:

I. THE MEANS OF FAITH GIVING 

Philippians 4:15 (KJV)

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.

Which is through the local church.

A. This is a letter written to a local church.

B. Paul thanks them for their gift, given to him collectively, as a local church, not as individuals.

How much more we could do for the work of the Lord if we would do our giving through our local church.

1. I am not talking aboutyour deciding you want to give to "Cause X" so you give it to the church and designate it for that cause.

2. I am talking about giving to the ministry of thechurch to be used as the church as a whole determines under the leadership of the Pastor.

·  Millions of dollars are given each year to causes that are ungodly,

·  One of the things the church and especially the Pastor is given for is to protect your from wolves in sheep's clothing.

And one of the things that needs protected is the dollar you have to give.

C.  All members of the church that giveget to receive a portion of the benefits of the giving.

This is why each member of the church should learn to practice the grace of giving.

Only those who give get the benefits of giving.

Secondly note

II. THE RECEIVER OF THE GIFT

Philippians 4:11-13 (KJV)

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased,and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Two thoughts from these verses

A. Paul was not in the ministry for money.

While there are people like Jim Bakker, and the like

For the most part, those who are in the ministry are not there for the money.

That is especially true of those in Independent Baptist Churches.

·   We have gone without health insurance

·   We rent the lowest cost houses we could find.

·   We worked secular jobs at times to make ends meet.

And most preachers I know have done or are still doing the same right now.

We are not in this for money, and when we ask people to give, it is not because we are money hungry people.

It is because we love the ministry and desire to see 

·   The things of God flourish

·   Souls saved, and 

·   Lives changed

B. All Christians would be happier Christians if they would learn to be content in the state they are presently in.

Rather than being jealous of the guy who makes more than you do.

Or being covetous to buy something you can't really afford.

If we could only learn to be content in the case that God has us in today.

When He chooses, and we are faithful, He is more than able to provide more abundantly for us!

When we decide we can't afford to 

·  Tithe, or 

·  Give to missions, or 

·  Give extra to special needs of the church, 

All we are really doing is choosing to live on the strength of ourselves --

AND WE LOSE THE BLESSING OF BEING STRENGTHENED BY THE LORD!

III. THE BASIS FOR FAITH GIVING

Philippians 4:17 (KJV)

Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

When we give to the work of the Lord we are actually 

·  Becoming partakersof the fruit of that ministry.

·  We become partnerswith the laborer of the Lord and 

·  We become partly responsiblefor every soul saved through that ministry

God records all the fruit of that ministry to our personal accounts.

Matt 6:20 says

"Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where theives do not break through nor steal, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Giving to the work of the ministry is one way to lay up those treasures.

IV. THE PROMISE OF FAITH GIVING

Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

A. God's number one work is that of sending people out to preach the Gospel.

When we give to finance the preaching of the Gospel, God promises His blessings.

It is true that giving to the work of the Lord can drastically reduce a person's spending money.

Paul knew this was true, but he didn't tell the people not to give because of it...

B. He just promised that God would supply all their need according to God's own riches 

WHICH ARELIMITLESS!

When we see to it that God's work is provided for

GOD SEES TO IT THAT WE ARE PROVIDED FOR.

Some Christians never see the supernatural provision of God, because they never sacrifice to give to the work of God.

To summarize

·  The means of giving - through the church

·  The receiver of the gift - is not just after money

·  The basis of giving - fruit added to your account, and

·  The promise of giving - God will bless