I had a wonderful experience this week that I regularly have, but I wanted to encourage you all with something that happened in my life this week. I was in the middle of leading my family in a situation that I had not sought counsel on. I thought I had it handled and it wasn't that big of a deal, And it came to the attention of the elders, and they started to inquire me about the wisdom of the way I was leading my family, the wisdom of my leadership. They started to ask me questions and help me to consider how I'd come to what I'd come to. And their reproof of my My poor thinking required me to change the direction that I was going and to go a different direction. And I'm very thankful for that. Proverbs 11, 14 says this, where there is no counsel, the people fall. But in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. One of things I want to encourage you all with this morning is there is safety in the counsel that I received. I am safe in the decision that I then make for my family. And if I don't get counsel, I'm going to make a lot of mistakes. Because I'm no different than you. Those of you that are saved. We make decisions. We do lots of things in our lives. And some things we think of as big deals and we may get counsel on sometimes. Many things we think of as not that big of a deal, we don't get counsel on. And then when we're challenged with that thinking, sometimes we embrace it and sometimes we try to avoid it. But I can attest to the safety that I feel in the decision that was arrived at. Proverbs 15, 22. Without counsel, plans go awry. But in the multitude of counselors, they are established. My plans had me headed for not providing for my family in the way that I'm to provide for my family. Not leading. Not making a wise choice. But now my plans are changed. and headed in a much more God-honoring direction. Proverbs 27.9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel. Elders Cal and Nick gave hearty counsel. See, they had no dog in the fight, really, other than their calling to shepherd me Which is a big deal. But other than that, they really had no dog in this fight. So they gave me hearty counsel. They gave me non-biased counsel. Wise counsel. Finally, Hebrews 13, 17 says this, Obey those who rule over you and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls as those who must give account Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Just like you, I am under the protection of the elders of this church. And just like you, I'm to be submissive and obedient to them. And just like you, it would be unprofitable for me to not be. It would be unprofitable for me to move forward with my decision that would grieve them. The wise thing for me to do would be to submit and be obedient with a decision that would bring them joy. It's really that simple. It is just that simple. There would be unprofitable for me to do anything different. Unwise for me to stay in my thinking, although I couldn't because my thinking was transformed in our discussion. Some of you do this much. Some of you kind of, sort of. Some of you rarely. There are many decisions that get made. Some of you are in the habit of kind of making a decision and kind of on the back end, kind of running its bias just to see if it's OK. Some of you come when you see some big deal. And sometimes, like me, you just kind of make a decision, you don't give it a lot of thought. And then we become aware of it and we interact with you about it. And sometimes some of you embrace that and others of you ignore that. It causes some people to leave this place. The elders are here for our protection, beloved. And we ought to use their wisdom and be submissive and obedient to it. Each one of you has this in your life. Right now, many of you are in resistance or opposition to something the elders are instructing you in. It's not profitable for you. It's prideful and it's arrogant. It's not trusting God. So I just want to encourage you all with that, to speak out loud about something that happens regularly in my life that I wanted to tell you about so that you could understand the safety in that, the peace in that, the profitability in that, in me changing the direction I was headed as I was shown the error in my thinking. It's that simple. It really is. We talked for maybe, I don't know, 15 minutes on a conference call, and then we spent another 15 minutes in our Wednesday meeting. And by the time I came to Wednesday meeting, my mind was already changed from our first discussion, and we just talked about logistics of all of that. Didn't take me 15 days or 15 months or 15 years, by God's grace. Really, it didn't take me 15 minutes. When we began the discussion, I said, OK, I'm clearly not thinking clearly on this, so let's go. Let me have it. And it wasn't a rebuke, it was just reproof. Just to sharpen my thinking. And I know the safety that comes in my life, and I know what that does for my family. They're protected inside of that. Same thing's true for y'all. So let's embrace that. OK, let's turn our Bibles to Philippians chapter four. We'll be in verses 14 through 20 today, I would encourage everyone to turn there. It's kind of a. Nothing to do with the sermon, really, but we're coming toward the end of this this book. And it's always kind of bittersweet. I have so grown through preaching through this book, and I am so thankful to God for putting us in this book. And boy, there's been lots of fruit in my life and in our lives, and so to come to the end of that's kind of a bummer. But hey, the good news is we get to go somewhere else. So we get to learn from another place in the Bible. So Philippians 4, 14 through 20, last week we looked at verses 10 through 13, where Paul taught on true contentment. What true contentment really looked like. So I'm going to read verses 10 through 13 because they flow right in here to 14. Remember, verse 10 kind of started a new section of thought. So I want to incorporate that into this week's passage because it flows right into it. Verse 10, But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again, though you surely did not. You surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. We see Paul there rejoicing in the provision of the Philippian church, in God's provision. And in God's providence, that they hadn't really helped him for 10 years, and he was rejoicing that He realized they didn't have a chance to, but now they had a chance to. They were doing it again. And so he was rejoicing in the Lord for the provision that flowed through the Philippian church. Then he goes on in verse 11, not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. Paul says, I don't really need it because here's what I've learned. And remember, we talked about Paul had to learn to be content. Jesus had to learn through his sufferings. We all have to learn to be content through our life circumstances. So Paul learned to be content, to be satisfied in his sufferings as he preached the gospel. Verse 12, I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. I know how to have a little bit and I know how to have a lot. Everywhere, in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Paul says, I'm content in any circumstance. Right now, my circumstance happens to be I'm imprisoned in Rome, chained to a jailer or a soldier every day, don't have a lot of things, about to stand trial for my life, and I am perfectly content. I don't have much right now, but it's all good. Verse 13, he then says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Content because of Christ's infused power. Contentment in His obedience. Remember, we talked about Paul could do all things through Christ. He could be obedient because of Christ infused power and that the contentment was coming from actually living out of the things that God had commanded him to do using the power of Christ. And in that he found great contentment. And then that brings us into verse 14, nevertheless. You've done well, but you shared in my distress. Now, you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church share with me concerning giving and receiving, but you only. For even in Thessalonica, you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 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. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory, my Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. The key verse in this passage is verse 17. Not that I seek the gift. But I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. What God has for us today, I believe is life changing. I mean, every sermon, every time we open the Bible, but I believe this is life changing. It has been one of those weeks for me where I have been so humbled and so blessed and so hopeful and so encouraged by what God's shown me. If we really listen to God, and if we really learn, and if we really have our minds transformed, this will be a life-altering passage or message that we hear this morning. It will shift the direction of our thinking and of our lives. Lots of clarity and direction God gave me this week in preparing for this. So Paul starts this section of his letter with the word nevertheless. He says, nevertheless, you have done well that you shared in my distresses, my distress. It's an important transition. Again, remember the setting. Paul is sitting in prison in Rome, not having much, not having much food, clothing or money. He's been in prison, so he can't work. He's got no he's had no resources. So he's really existing on very little. The Philippian church became aware of his need. And they have sent a gift with Epaphroditus to minister to him. Now, something to realize about this, we've talked about it before, but the Philippian church was extremely poor. The Philippian church, the church in Berea, the church in Thessalonica, those churches were all part of Macedonia, and that was a very impoverished area. So their gift was not out of an overabundance. It wasn't like they had more than they could use, so here we'll send you some. Their gift was out of extreme poverty. Paul talks about that in 2 Corinthians 8. We read this often in our time of tithes and offerings. Paul says this, Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia. Again, which Philippi, the church of Philippi, was one of those that in great in a great trial of affliction. The abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing. Employing us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. In other words, this very poor church has sent money with me out of their poverty so that I could be preaching to you in Corinth, a very wealthy area. And they're begging us to take that. Even though they sure needed a whole lot more than we needed, it would seem. So this very poor church had just sent a sacrificial gift with Epaphroditus to minister to Paul's needs. A gift that came out of their extreme poverty. Now, this letter that we're reading was going to go back to the Philippian church with Epaphroditus. And that's actually what happened. The letter went back. And remember, in this letter, they had just read what we looked at last week. But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again. Though you surely did care, you lack opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. I know how to be a base, I know how to abound. And where in all things I learn both to be full and hungry, both to abound and suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Paul's basically saying, look, I don't need your care package. I've learned to trust in God's providence, in his provision, I don't need what you sent. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I'm OK. So so they don't get the wrong message, because now it's almost like, wow, we messed up, we shouldn't even have said it. He's not even thankful to God for it, although he he said, say he rejoiced in verse 10. So then Paul says, look, your gift was not of no value. He says, nevertheless, you have done well. that you shared in my distress. You have done well, Kallos. Kallos. Well, rightly, or good value. Paul says, I didn't need all that. Nevertheless, you have done rightly. You have done well. You have done something valuable. You've done something honorable in sending the gift. In sharing in my distress. Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, He had been through a bunch of things as we've seen continually in the book of Acts. Beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned. He's imprisoned again. So he's clearly being oppressed. He's clearly in affliction. And he says, hey, by you sending the money and the provision that you sent, you did a good thing in sharing in my oppression. So don't think because I said I didn't need it, it's still a good thing you've done. Now, this wasn't the first time that this poor church in Philippi had shared in Paul's ministry. They had been partners with Paul for a long time. They had a history of partnership. A history of partnership. The Philippian church wasn't making a one-time gift. A one-time donation. A one-time taxable gift donation. They had been characterized by partnering with Paul in his ministry. They've been characterized by supporting the gospel. It's verse 15 and 16. Now, you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, so Paul left Philippi and he went to Thessalonica and Berea, which were in Macedonia, and then he left Macedonia as well. That was ten years earlier, when he had left Philippi, and he says this, No church shared with me concerning giving and receiving, but only you. So you Philippians were the only ones who shared with me ten years ago. When I left to go to Thessalonica, which was in Macedonia, I went there. And for even in Thessalonica, you sent aid once and again for my necessities. You were the only ones. So the only church that had supported him was Philippi. Now, remember, it was the early church, and that was the first place he had gone. He said, you were the only ones, you were the only ones there, so you supported me then. Then Paul left Macedonia and he went to Corinth and Athens, and they supported him there as well, which we already kind of looked at. 2 Corinthians 11, 7 through 9. Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted because I preached the gospel to you free of charge? Pastor Paul said to the church at Corinth, look, if I preach the gospel, I should be supported by the gospel. Y'all should be paying me to preach the gospel, but you aren't being. I robbed other churches. Paul calls it robbery. He says, I robbed other churches. In other words, this poor church in Philippi has sent money with me so that I can minister and preach the gospel to you free of charge. taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you in need, I was burdened to no one for what I lack. The brethren who came from Macedonia supplied, even when I was in Corinth, this Philippian church brought me stuff. And in everything, I kept myself from being burdensome to you, so I will keep myself. The brethren from Macedonia had supplied Paul's needs as he was out preaching the gospel. First Thessalonians 2.9 For you remember, brethren, our toil and labor, for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preach to you the gospel. Second Thessalonians 3.8 Nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but work with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. Paul, Silas, and Timothy preached the gospel in Thessalonica Then they preached the gospel in Berea, and then they went to Corinth and Athens, and they kept preaching the gospel and didn't charge anyone anything, didn't ask for anything, because they were being provided for by this poor Philippian church. This impoverished Philippian church. says in those two verses there, he's just acknowledged their partnership. And he's helping them to remember all their partnership that they've had with him going back ten years. As poor as they were. See, one of the things that we need to understand from this passage is that the Philippians had to give up things. in order to support Paul's ministry. They were not giving out of their excess. So they had to get rid of cable TV. They had to get rid of their vacations. They had to get rid of things. They were denying themselves out of their poverty they were giving liberally. This is part of what's going to change our lives if we understand this. They weren't giving out of excess. They were supporting. They were partnering with Paul. They were partnering with God. They were supporting the gospel. And they were doing so sacrificially because they were very poor. Remember, in verse 10, Paul was rejoicing because of their care package. He just had told them, you did well to support me. He was joyful because of the fruit of giving. The fruit of giving. This is what I said is the key to the whole passage right here. Paul says, not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Paul reiterates that he isn't rejoicing because of the material benefit of the gift in his life. Not that I seek the gift. Not that that's what I'm joyful about. Not that. Rather, the fruit that abounds to their account. That's what he's joyful about. Not because he got what he needed, but because they were getting the fruits of his ministry applied to their account. with God. Fruit. Carpaths. Carpaths. That which originates or comes from something else. An effect or result. Is used in figurative discourse of those who, by their labors, have fitted souls to obtain eternal life. Those who by their labors have fitted souls to obtain eternal life. The fruit, karpas, refers here to salvation. Paul is saying that their giving has led to the gospel being preached, which has led to salvations, which is credited to your account. Karpas. Paul talks about karpas, the fruits, much in the New Testament. Romans 1.13, Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you, but was hindered until now, that I might have some karpas among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. Paul wanted to come to Rome to preach the gospel that some could be saved, that he might get some fruit. Some salvations. that he could have some fruit in Rome like he had in all the other Gentile lands. Earlier in this epistle, Paul talked about the fruits of his life. Remember? Philippians 1, 21 and 22. He said, for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit, karpas, salvations from my labor. Yet what I shall choose, I cannot tell. He says, as long as I live, Paul says, by the grace of God, I will labor. And I will labor in preaching the gospel, and that will bring about salvation. That will bring about karpas. That will bring about fruit. Jesus, teaching the parable of the soils. Matthew 13, verse 8 says this, But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop. Karpas. Some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Those who are good soil, true believers, will bear the fruits of others being saved. That's one of the proof texts of our salvation. What Paul is so joyful about in this letter to the Philippians is not that his needs were met. It's not, I praise God because you gave me what I needed. It's, I praise God because these salvations that are happening are being credited to your account. Because of your partnership with me. See, Philippian church, you are giving out of your poverty because you are understanding the importance or the only thing that matters, Brenda. They were understanding the only thing that matters is salvation. So they were giving out of their poverty, partnering with Paul, that he would preach the gospel, that people would be saved. And it was being credited to their account. And that brought him great joy. Not that he got a meal. Not that he had some clothes and some money. that their accounts were getting cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching in heaven. Paul is excited because their investment in his ministry is accruing eternal dividends. Proverbs 11, 24, 25, there is one who scatters yet increases more. And there's one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich. And he who waters will also be watered himself. Those who give away what they have will have more. Those who withhold for themselves will be made poor. Proverbs 19, 17, He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord. And He will pay back what He has given. Those who give to support the poor like Paul, or any other person living for God's profit, will be paid back. God will not be in debt. The Philippians were again supporting Paul and his ministry like they had ten years earlier. And as people were saved, They were having their accounts with God credited. And that was what Paul was joyful about. 2 Corinthians 9, 6-13, But this I say, He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. And he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Look, the more the Gospel is spread out of our resources, the more we will reap. And the less the gospel is spread out of our resources, the less we will reap. So let each one give as he purposes it in heart, not grudging or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. In other words, God is going to keep giving you more. If you're going to spread the gospel, you're going to keep getting more, more and more credited to your account, more eternal dividends being paid. He is dispersed abroad, he is given to the poor, his righteousness endures forever. Now, may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. In other words, God provides this stuff, and as you pass that through, may He keep giving you more. While you enrich in everything for all liberality which causes thanksgiving through us to God, for the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God. While through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ. In other words, providing for the needs of the faith and your salvation and your profession that glorify God. You confess the gospel of Christ that glorifies God. Because the Philippians supported Paul's ministry, the preaching of the gospel was what Paul was up to. The growing of God's church. They were accruing eternal dividends. It's a great principle. This is life changing, if we'll listen and have our minds transformed. Jesus says this in Matthew 6, 19 through 20. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Exactly what the Philippians were doing. They were storing up treasures in heaven. They were storing up saved souls. It matters what we give to, beloved. It matters where our resources go. There is a big difference between giving to UNICEF or United Way and giving to HeartCry Ministries or to Grace Fellowship Church. One has no eternal value and one credits your account. How many in here have been saved? God has regenerated your heart while you've been at Grace Fellowship Church. Look around. Everybody look around. OK, that is credited to everyone's account who's given to Grace Fellowship Church. Everyone who is given to Grace Fellowship Church. Has been credited with those salvations. In God's economy. It matters whether my estate goes to my children or to Grace Fellowship Church. It matters whether any resources God has given me will go to spread the gospel or go to build their wealth. Eternal dividends versus no dividends. In our giving, What fruit will abound to our account? Will it be eternal fruit? Karpas? Salvations? What will lead to the preaching of the gospel? And the salvations? Not what might lead to the preaching of the gospel. You know, Sarah might get saved. And I might leave her some money from my insurance account and she might get saved and she might could use it for the gospel. That's a might I have no idea. Here's what I know. Grace Fellowship Church will preach the gospel. Does preach the gospel. I will support that ministry. It's life changing. This is life altering if we will have our minds transformed. I have an insurance policy. I don't have a lot of net worth. I have a life insurance policy. The beneficiary is this church. Almost all of it, there's small amounts that go to my children. Because I want any resources I have any control over to be credited to my account in heaven, I want to build up treasures in heaven. And what I know is the gospel must be preached and people must be saved. And that's the only thing that matters. This is a big deal. It's a big deal for how I live now, and it's a big deal for how I plan for my future. Plan for my children's future. Plan for my grandchildren's future. Let's move on to verse 18. We see the sacrificial gift. The sacrificial gift. He says, 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. Paul starts out here with three verbs which are all descriptive of the gift, and each verb gets increasingly more emphatic. He says this, I have all, apeko. It means to be enough, be sufficient, to the limit of what one would expect. Paul says, I have all that I could possibly expect to have gotten from you. Then he says, I abound. I have abundance. Perisuo. Perisuo. To be abundantly furnished with. To have an abundance. Abound in a thing. To be in influence. He says, I have abundance because of what you sent. Then even more emphasis. He says, I am full. to fill to the top, so that nothing shall be wanting, to full measure fill to the brim. I am filled to the brim. I am filled to the top. Your gift has given me everything I could possibly need. I am completely cared for by your gift. Not because of what I got for my material needs, but because of how it abounded to your account. I am filled. Paul says, I've got more than I could need. I've got more than I could expect. I'm overflowing. Not because I have enough money to last the rest of my life, because he didn't know if he was going to live any longer. He says, because it was being abounded to your account. It was being added to your account. That's why I'm so full. Indeed, I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things that things sent from you. A sweet smelling aroma. An acceptable sacrifice. Well pleasing to God. Paul says your gift is a sweet smelling aroma. An acceptable sacrifice. He's using Old Testament language to describe their gift. Look at Genesis 8 20. This is after the flood. After the flood, Noah worshiped God. Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in his heart, I will never again curse the ground for man's sake. Although the imagination of a man's heart is evil from his youth, nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. The aroma of the burning animals and birds was a soothing, pleasing aroma to God. It was a great sacrifice that Adam gave. And it was pleasing. I've often wondered how the smell of burning flesh was pleasing to God. It was pleasing to God because that's what He required for sin. It was a great sacrifice. Noah took some of the few animals he had and he sacrificed them. Leviticus 1 speaking of sacrificing a bull verse 9, but he shall wash its entrails and its legs with water and the priest shall burn all On the altar is a burnt sacrifice an offering made by fire a sweet aroma to the Lord down to verse 17 Then he shall split it at its wings But shall not divide it completely and the priest shall burn it on the altar on the wood that is on the fire it is a burnt sacrifice and offering made by fire a sweet aroma to the Lord and Paul's telling the Philippians, he's using language that would tell them that their gift, that came from their great poverty, their gift that did not come out of their affluence, it came out of their poverty, because they were partnering with him in the gospel, therefore having people be saved, that that gift was a sweet-smelling aroma to God. It was an acceptable sacrifice. This reminds me of the language in Romans 12.1. We are to give our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is our spiritual act of worship. This is what we're to be doing, like the Philippians were doing. And in the area of our finances, it's exactly what it is. It's to sacrifice everything for the furtherance of the gospel. Paul was encouraged and joyful in the sacrificial gift that Philippians had given, remember? But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, Philippians 4.10, that now at last your care for me has flourished again. It was pleasing to God. It was a sweet smelling. This gift that Epaphroditus brought to Paul in Rome was a sweet smelling sacrifice. Because it was pleasing to God. It was what God required. We are to do the same, beloved. First Peter 2 5. You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a royal, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Are you offering up spiritual sacrifices, pleasing to God, giving resources in order that the gospel is spread and people are saved? Is our 10% for God's work, our money's 10% for God's work, and 90% to care for our needs and to grow our wealth? Is that a sweet aroma to God? Do we want 10% of the money that God puts in our possession? Do we want 10% of that to be credited to our heavenly account? And 90% to not be? Now look, some of that 90% pays for our expenses. We have living expenses. We eat. We have cars. We have houses. And as long as we're perpetuating the gospel, that's a good use of money. It's a good use of funds. But some of that 90 percent, lots of that 90 percent in our minds, it's going to burn up. It's not being credited to our account in heaven. It is not storing up treasure in heaven. Ninety percent ought to be used to keep us sustained, us and our families. That's biblical. And the reason we're being sustained is for the spreading of the gospel, beloved. We aren't being sustained so that we can just live longer. We're being sustained so the gospel can be spread. That was what Paul was so joyful about. This is exactly what the Philippians were doing. They were giving far more than could be expected out of their poverty. Back to verse 18, Indeed I have all, and abound, I am full, having received from the Baptist, the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. This gift that was sacrificial and was for the purpose of preaching the gospel and saving souls was well-pleasing to God. Well-pleasing. Eurestos, Eurestos, well-pleasing, acceptable. This word, we are to desire to be pleasing to God as well. 2 Corinthians 5, 9. Therefore, we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be Eurestos to Him. Is it your aim to be well-pleasing to God in the distribution of your money and resources? Ephesians 5.10, finding out what is acceptable, Eurestos, to the Lord. What is acceptable or well-pleasing to God is that we use our resources for His profit, not for our pleasure. I'm not saying we can't enjoy things, but know that what is pleasing to God and credits our accounts with Him is sacrificial giving to spread the gospel. 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." What is an acceptable sacrifice? For the Philippians, it was a care package that cost them greatly. They weren't giving out of their excess, like I said before. They weren't giving out of their abundance. They were giving out of their poverty. And that was an acceptable sacrifice. First Chronicles 21-24. Now, David had been instructed by God to build an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan, the Jebusite. And he went to see Ornan, and Ornan attempted to give it to him. He wanted to just give it to him. Here's what David said. Then King David said to Ornan, No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing. sacrifices that cost us nothing are not what the Philippians were practicing. It's not what David did. Are we giving sacrificially an acceptable sacrifice? Does it cost us something? Is it outside of our comfort zone? Does it require us to trust God? Are we giving comfortably enough? We've still got it covered. What if we were to invest everything we have beyond our basic needs to kingdom work? What if we were to invest everything we had beyond our basic needs to kingdom work? Based on this passage of Scripture, based on the Bible, based on the truth, what would that do if we were doing that in Kingdom work? If everything we had, minus our basic needs, was going for the spreading of the Gospel and the saving of souls? I can hear it now in Heaven. Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching. Paul promises the return on investment. The return on investment, verse 19, and my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Remember who he's writing to. He's writing to an impoverished church that has just had a gift they can't afford. And he says, and my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He was reminded of Philippians that they were storing up treasures in heaven. But not only that, they were storing up treasures in heaven via salvation by the gospel being preached. But not only that, God will continue to supply your need. Proverbs 3, 9 and 10, honor the Lord with your possessions and with the firstfruits of all your increase. So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine. We read it this morning in Malachi. We're told to test God in this. It's the only place in Scripture we're said to test God. That seems scary, doesn't it? Can we trust God that he will supply? All of our needs. Therefore, if we can, when we give sacrificially outside of our comfort zones. This is life changing. This is directional transformation. This is a whole different way of looking at things. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6. Therefore, do not worry saying, what should we eat? What should we drink? Or what should we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God. How is the Kingdom of God? Where is the Kingdom of God in this room? It's in dwelling all believers. So we're to seek that first. More of those. And then holy living and righteousness. And all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own thing. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Seek first the kingdom of God, more souls being saved, and you can trust God to provide. Look, this is radical. But this is what Jesus said. This is what Paul is so joyful about. This is the truth. I'm not suggesting that we all get everything we have in this church. Although I'm not suggesting we are not. But I am suggesting this for sure, we all could give much, much more sacrificially. And if we do, we can trust God to provide. Kevin, I happen to know your life. And this is as close to prosperity preaching as you're ever going to hear. Kevin's heart was changed. He was regenerate. His wife stopped working because that's what God had for them. They couldn't very well make their bills monthly. And now Kevin's financial situation is the best it's ever been. His business is booming. And his goal is to give generously, give sacrificially to God's work. And he cannot get out of the way of it right now. God will provide. Do we trust that? Will God provide lots or little? And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches. God shall supply according to His riches. Playutos. Riches. Wealth. An abundance of material resources. How many material resources does God have? It's all His. That's the pile we get to be blessed out of. That's the pile we get to be provided for out of. No gift given to God can make us poorer. No gift given to God can make us poorer. It can only make us richer. Ephesians 1 3 blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places Beloved we are in Christ like it says in verse 19 according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus We are in Christ. We have every spiritual blessing we need and we will have our material needs met out of God's riches 1 Corinthians 1, 4-9, I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. who also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful by whom you were called in the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. We are rich in Jesus Christ. We can give it all away and trust God to provide what we need. And as long as all we're giving away... Listen, don't walk out in the street and start giving to everybody left and right. Don't start giving it to your unsaved family and friends. That is not what's being taught in Scripture. Give it for the preaching of the gospel. And as people are saved, it will be credited to your account in heaven. That's the truth. And it's life-changing. It's mind-altering. It's not how we thought. It goes right in the face of the business I've worked in for 25 years. Paul, it goes right in the face of the business that you work in. We've got to try to figure out how to make those businesses, Cal, how to make those businesses line up with the truth of Scripture. How to make our resources go for the preaching of the gospel. We need to be growing in this grace, beloved. We need to be growing in this grace. We are a long way from it. All of us are a long way from it. We need to be growing in this grace. Paul ends this section with this, Soli Deo Gloria. It's a Latin phrase meaning glory to God alone. He says in verse 20, Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Paul says, I rejoice in your sacrificial gift that came out of your poverty. Not out of your overflow. That's credited to your account because it's gone for the preaching of the gospel and the saving of souls. And I rejoice in that. And all glory to God. All glory to God that you are storing up treasures in heaven. All glory to God alone. Ephesians 3, 20, 21, now to him who was able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. By the power of God, we can follow the example of the Philippian church. We can give sacrificially, we can give beyond what's comfortable. We can deny ourselves some things that we may give to the kingdom, to the perpetuating of the gospel. By the power of God, we can follow the Philippian examples of trusting God. As they let go so that seed could be scattered. Philippians 4, 14 through 20. Nevertheless, you have done well that you shared in my distress. 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. For even in Thessalonica, you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Look, I don't stand up here as the pastor of this church seeking your gifts so that my salary can increase. I don't stand up here seeking your sacrificial giving for my benefit. I seek it for the benefit of God crediting your account for the salvations that will come from this ministry. Oh God, that we understand this. Indeed, I have all and abounded. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Closing thought. Paul was overjoyed by the sacrificial offering that his Philippian brothers and sisters had made, overjoyed because their gift was sacrificial and pleasing to God as it was used for his profit, that his kingdom would come to earth. Could Paul be joyful because of our sacrificial giving that is growing his kingdom? Have you ever gone without because you gave too much to God's work? Are our minds being transformed as it relates to giving for Christ's sake? The title of this message today, The Fruits of Giving for Christ's Sake. Not the fruits of giving because it feels good. Not the fruits of giving because we have too much and we're so blessed and we can just give some away. The fruits of giving for Christ's sake. And what is for Christ's sake? Seeking and saving that which is lost. That's for Christ's sake. Some of us in here today need to think about what we can do without so that we can give more sacrificially. So we can have the gospel we preach. Some of us in here today Need to consider how we can give none of our poverty because we don't have it. But how can we give sacrificially outside of our comfort zone? In a way that costs us something. Some need to understand the foolishness of this message today shows your hatred of God and your separation from Him. Some of you, this is foolishness, too. You're not trying to hear it. Ain't nobody got time for this. That proves your separation from God. That shows you're not right with God, if this is foolishness. Now, some of us are challenged with this and we will grow in this grace. And that will be proof that we're His. We were at dinner last night. I mentioned earlier, but Brenda said, you know, she gave testimony, she said, I think I'm ninety nine percent of the way there. I think it sounds like no doubt, but I'm really starting to understand, she said, nothing else matters. But salvation, nothing else matters, but the eternal condition of a soul. And she said, I'm just starting to get that, Brenda, I'm going to tell you something. If we get that, this truth that we look at today will change our lives. Because if truly nothing else matters, Which is true! Why did Jesus come and die? Why did God pour His wrath out on His Son? To seek and save that which was lost. Somebody, somebody gave resources that I could hear the gospel. Lots of people gave resources to promise keepers where I first heard the truth of my condition. And whoever did that, they have been credited their account in heaven. Some of you have been saved in here. Be encouraged, beloved. Our giving has brought salvation, has brought compost, has brought fruit. But let's not be satisfied with that. We need to think. Don't pass over this message. Think. Think about what God says to us. Think about where we really will have treasures in heaven. Don't just pass over so that we can hold on to all the things that we hold so dear, like our security and money. Could never give it all away. I would assert that we don't trust God. See, for some, this is a big deal because you have lots. For others, boy, it already hurts to give. Are you giving things up like the Philippian church and giving out of your poverty or are you just hitting the minimum? Nothing else matters but souls. All the stuff that I, it doesn't matter. That's why when I go to Hawaii, I have to preach the gospel. Don't I? Father, I am so thankful for Your Word, for the example in the church at Philippi that You give us, for Paul's joy, not in receiving the things he received materialistically. Father, his joy in the prophet, in abounding in the accounts, of those Philippian believers that had given to Paul and his ministry that the gospel would be preached, that people would be saved. It had nothing to do with meeting his material needs. His joy, Father, that you've shown us was in the credit to those givers, those believers accounts in heaven. Father, change our minds. Father, summon here today that you would grant them repentance because they think this is foolishness. The message of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing. And Father, they can't imagine the thought of everything going to you. Grant them repentance for your glory. Amen.