The Unknown Bible - Pastor Bevans Welder

Concerning Giving and Receiving
Phil 4:9-23

2-3-08

Paul starts this last part of the letter to the Philippians with a charge to do the things that they have learned from him

Those things which ye have BOTH learned AND received – I have learned a lot of things that I did not receive [Rice University] but then I learned a lot of things that I have received [PBI & Pastor’s school] – heard AND seen – Jesus warned the disciples to do what they heard the Pharisees say but not to do what they saw Matt 23:3 [do what they say not what they do] – Paul said do what you hear and see me do because he “walked the talk” – your walk talks [always] but does your talk walk?

He said, you do those things and God will be with you – i.e. God will back me on these things – these are the things God wants you to be doing

Now he turns his attention to giving and receiving – and if you’re going to give and receive like Paul here are the things to do

Concerning receiving – to the recipient -

10 - Rejoice in the Lord – offer many thanksgivings to God – 2 Cor 9:12

11 - Always be content – no matter whether there is a lot coming in or none coming in – food and raiment are enough – be content with such things as ye have – 1 Tim 6:8

12 - Learn how to handle the ups and downs – Paul said he knew how to be content because he learned how – you need to know how to abound and be full [when you have extra money it is very important to know how to deal with it] – know how to be abased, hungry, and suffer need [Jesus did and it didn’t take him away from his work, Jn 4] – hard times come so learn how to live in the valleys – the Jews in the wilderness never did learn this – they complained the whole way

13 - Don’t become dependent on the gifts - remember that the source of your strength is the Lord – he may have to take some money away from you to teach you more about how to rely on his strength

Concerning Giving – to the giver

How to give:

10 - Give whenever there is the opportunity – lacking opportunity doesn’t seem to fit with the disciples in Acts 2, 4 and the saints in Macedonia 2 Cor 8:2 – nevertheless when you have the opportunity “give” 2 Cor 8:12 – notice that when they lacked opportunity it really put Paul [and others] in a bind [Phil 2:30]

15 – Give right after you get saved – in the beginning of the gospel – we ought to start giving right after we get saved and into a local church - Paul got to Philippi on the second missionary journey and right after he left they started giving to him

15 - Give as directed by the Lord - at that time no one else was giving to him, they were the first – so, giving should not be based on what others are doing or not doing – others may drop a missionary or not take him on – still we must do as the Lord leads – Damon Woods suffered the loss of much support on a rumor, but others picked him up, not regarding what his former supporters had done

16 – Give continuously – once and again

18 – Give sacrificially – we are to offer spiritual sacrifices Heb 13 – the poor widow gave all her living; the others gave from their abundance

Why to give. Giving:

10 - Shows your care for the minister – proves the sincerity of your love 2 Cor 8

14 - Represents a job well done – we’re always asking “is there anything that we can do for you” – the answer is “yes” – you can always give and that will always be good – you can count on that - well done thou good and faithful servant [giving is how to get that compliment from God]

17 – Yields fruit to your account – souls saved are part yours – those who stay by the stuff part and part alike with those in the field

19 - Ensures that your needs will be met – verse 19 was written to a giving church – even if you were to give too much, God would still take care of your needs – this is his promise!!