Think about even tonight's message, thank you. It's a very heartfelt and loving departure of the Apostle Paul. He's expressing to the believers just how much they mean to him and what their sacrifices have done for him. Can I tell you, as I think about all that's going on, and we had quite a few people here this morning, and just seeing God work in this church, man, my heart is overwhelmed. I'm so appreciative of those who come to church, and you guys are a great blessing. And I think about just all that God has done in the time here and what God has done. God's given us a building and we've been able to pay it off. There's just blessing after blessing after blessing. And I think we owe it to God to tell him thank you. I've written, I mentioned before service, that journal here on the front table. This journal here notes many of the stories of blessings that God has done here. Not all of them, but many of them. And even in some personal stories of individuals in their own lives, some blessings, some things they're thankful for. I think we as Christians, we miss out on the blessings and really the rewards of God because we just haven't learned to be thankful. When David Livingston went to Africa, a Scottish woman, Philippians chapter four in your Bibles, we'll look at here in just a moment, but let me read this illustration for you. When David Livingston went to Africa, a Scottish woman who saved 30 pounds came and presented him with this gift. She said, I want you to save yourself needless toil and exposure by hiring a servant who will go with you wherever you go and share your sacrifices and dangers. With this offering, David Livingston hired Sabantino, a faithful servant and friend. Later in Livingston's journeys, when he was in the heart of Africa, a lion attacked Livingston, threw him down and crushed the bones in his left arm. But Sabantino, at the risk of his own life, saved the missionary. What would have happened if the Scottish woman had never given the love offering to Livingston? Many would have not heard the gospel. How many will not hear the gospel today because of the neglect of giving to missionaries? And as we think about the Apostle Paul as he finishes this book, obviously we know it's by the inspiration of the Spirit of God this book was written, this letter, the epistle. But we find the Apostle Paul is so thankful for the Church of Philippi. It's a very, very special church. And there's some wonderful things that God does, and there's some special things that this church just had a heart, man, their heart knit with Apostle Paul's heart, and they said, and Paul, as he's writing this, and it's finishing up, and his thoughts, and he just wants to say, he just wants to tell the church, thank you. And as you think about that, man, God does some wonderful things. And my wife and I actually, as we'll be gone some years ago, this church had some particular needs, and the church we're going back to, I'll be preaching at a conference there, and they're down there in Wyoming, and this church came to our aid. And you know what? God allows different people to help us at various times of our lives. And we ought to have a heart to not look at our circumstances in light of all the trials, but we ought to begin, when trials come, I think that's the time you ought to be thinking and writing down all the praises of God even more so. Because it's when I begin to write in those hard times, I think about the praises of God. It lifts my heart up out of the turmoil, out of the storm, brings it up into the presence of God and allows me to say, oh, God's still present and God still cares. God loves you and God cares for you. And as we think about this tonight, this final really farewell here from the book of Philippians, we finish through this book, I want our hearts to be stirred to say, God, I'm thankful. But as a result of our thankfulness, there's some things that we ought to be doing as well. And we'll look at that tonight. Let's pray and ask the Lord for his blessing upon this time. And then we'll continue, but let's look at verse 15 through verse 23. Now you 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. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity, not because I desire a gift. but i desire fruit that may abound to your account but i have all and abound i am full having received of epaphroditus the things which were sent from you an odor of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable well pleasing to god but my god shall supply all your need according to his riches and glory by christ jesus Now unto God and our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Salute every saint in Christ Jesus, the brethren which are with me greet you. All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for this day. Lord, I pray you just bless this time. And Lord, we need you. Lord, I pray that you'd help me as I preach your precious word. I pray that you'd help me to say what I ought to say, refrain from saying any needless thing. Lord, may we look at your word, may we study it, and may we know it, and Father, I pray that you would help us to realize that we have an obligation to you. There's many that have invested their lives into us. Lord, rather than living our lives for ourselves and our own ambitions, our own goals, that God, we would say, what would you have me to do? Or just like this morning, as I mentioned about Jonah, in a calling to some people that we may not want to go to, But Father, you've called us to be the witnesses in a light in a dark world. Father, I pray tonight that again, you would just stir our hearts. And may we have open hearts to hear, to receive, and then to apply. And we'll thank you for all the work that you do. I love you. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. I want to look, first of all, in verses 15 through 20. My first point is, you're a blessing. Paul was fervent in getting churches to give to other churches, but scant in asking for himself. We've noticed in 2 Corinthians 8 that the churches of Macedonia had given liberally upon Paul's admonishment to them. to the church in Jerusalem. But the Corinthian church had not, even though they had promised it a year before, the Corinthian church, the church of Corinth, had promised to give towards the church of Jerusalem. Now, the church of Jerusalem was a church that had gone through a very, very difficult time. If you remember the apostle Paul, in his former, before salvation, he was a very ardent, passionate persecutor of the churches. He hated the churches. And so as a result, you have husbands and wives and kids that are, you know, you have widows and widowers and fatherless children because the Apostle Paul had killed them and imprisoned them. The Church of Jerusalem had suffered some great struggles. And the churches, the whole region, churches of Macedonia, much like you would find in Turkey today, these churches promised and they gave. But the church of Corinth had promised a year before and had not given. And so he scolds these churches. I want to look at a couple passages here. In 2 Corinthians 11, 8, he said, I robbed other churches, taking wages of them to do you service. Look with me in 2 Corinthians 11, verse 8. We really find here in this idea, in this passage of scripture, about your being a blessing to the church of Philippi. And he's even telling the church of Corinth, he says, listen, I had other churches supporting me so that I could come here and minister to you. Yes, he was a tent maker, but he also had other churches, mission support. We have missionaries that we support on a monthly basis. There are churches that support us on a monthly basis, that allow us to do some things. Now, as a result of that, we have an obligation to continue to fulfill the Great Commission. We always do, whether we have that or not. But Paul says, listen, I had other churches that helped me, and even when you gave nothing. And so in 2 Corinthians chapter 8, we read about Paul's admonishment, his praising of the churches of Macedonia because they were givers. Can I tell you a thankful person and a person who's living by faith, you're understanding and realizing where all of our blessings come from. God gave them. In 2 Corinthians 8, verse 1, moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia. How that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power bear record, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves, praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. This they did not as we hope, but first gave their own selves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God. So much that we desire tight as that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. And then we also read in chapter 9, verses 1 through 5, For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you. For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that a Caiai was ready a year ago, and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf, that, as I said, you may be ready. Less happily if they of Macedonia come with me and find you unprepared. But we say not ye, should be ashamed in the same confidence boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren that they would go before you and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had noticed before, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, not as of covetousness. What he's saying here, he says, listen, the churches of Macedonia, verses 1 through 6 of 2 Corinthians, he says, the Macedonian churches, here's these Macedonian, all this region here, in Macedonia, in Turkey, in the western part. These churches were persecuted. They were very poor, the individuals were. And yet they had a heart for the saints in Jerusalem. They said, help, we want to do something. Paul's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You're like the widow's mite. It's the last mite. And he said, I don't want that. They said, no, Paul, we want it. God has given to us. And they were exceedingly joyful. And the Apostle Paul, as he's also talking to the church of Philippi, he says, church, I know sometimes it was hard, but you did what God wants you to give. You know, when you give, when God leads you to give, and you're not stingy, I'm not saying giving just because, oh, it's the duty, and that's what I'm supposed to do, and if I give, then God will multiply. No, no, no, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying these churches, the Spirit of God worked in their hearts, and they said, no, we want to help. And it brought joy. because rather than focusing on their condition, rather than focusing on their trials, rather than focusing on the poverty and the persecution and the hard times they're going through, they said, man, I want to do more for Jesus. I think a lot of times we suffer more in our lives because we're too focused, not we're too focused, we're focused on ourselves. You can't be too focused on yourself. You're focused on yourself and not on Jesus. And then he says in chapter 9, he says, Church of Corinth, you boasted a year ago that you were going to give and you still haven't given. It would be a shame at the churches of Macedonia if they would come to you and find that you gave an idle promise. Are you an individual that gives promises? Are you an individual that says, I'll do it, and then you don't do it? You're not true to your word. The Apostle Paul, he's commending the church of Philippi. He says, I'm so thankful. Man, you're a church that is true to your word. Paul had done great damage to the believers in Jerusalem, leaving many without a parent or a loved one. And he had a heart. Look with me at Acts chapter 8, verse 1. The Apostle Paul, as his actions would decimate this church. I mean, it just created great havoc, great hurt. is your Christianity, and we would all hope, yes, my Christianity, my faith in God is stable enough that if there was persecution, I would say, I will not bend. Paul notes the Philippian believers. And he's unified in heart. He says, man, we're together. You know what happens when you're a part of a team? If you've ever played a sports team and everyone on that team, man, they're doing exactly what they are. They're working together. There's no hot shots. There's no one there, you know, trying to prop themselves up. That's a smooth running machine. And the Church of Philippi is such a blessing to the Apostle Paul. But the Church of Corinth has some real problems. In Acts chapter 8 verse 1, and Saul was consenting unto his death. Now he's talking about here in Jerusalem. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem. They were all scattered abroad throughout the region of Judea and Samaria except the Apostles. Devout men carried Stephen to his burial to make great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and hailing men and women, committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. If you were to look at Acts chapter 9 verse 30, look with me here. What happened? Persecution came, Christians spread, and look what happened in verse 30 of chapter 9. This is not necessarily pertinent, but I just want to show you this. It's really cool. Which when the, is that the word? 31, verse 31, excuse me. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria and were edified, and walking the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied. You find, if you look at verses 28 through 31, they go out. Persecution comes. Judea, Samaria, and uttermost. Man, they go. Persecution comes. It's like kicking an anthill. Guess what happens when you kick an anthill? The ants go, right? Ants just go all over. Persecution comes. The Christians, they spread out. They preach the word of God. Churches are established all over the place. And then that area had rest. Because the gospel changes areas. And that's our responsibility. That's free, that's on a side, but anyways. But there was an explosion in church planting. And Paul brought a great persecution against the church here in Jerusalem. And all that region, it scattered the believers. And these churches of Macedonia were a great help in this church planting effort. Philippi is in modern day Greece. Paul had ministered to many churches because of those who gave to his ministry. He had been in great financial, desperate financial need before. Under normal conditions when funds dried up Paul had a simple remedy. He did work. He did some tent making He didn't stop his soul winning. He didn't stop his church planting discipleship training activities. He merely added some of his secular work to it but Paul left Philippi in Macedonia for a Ki and the work of evangelism flourished greatly and Paul had two options, go hungry while doing spiritual work or ease up on spiritual work in order to have time to do secular work to earn money to buy food. Paul chose to go hungry. He chose to fast at times in order to continue the ministry. And Paul would have been forgotten by some. Oh, he came to our church. Man, that was powerful preaching from Paul. And yet he's on his way and we go about our daily tasks. Paul ministered, he helped to establish, and it was the Church of Philippi that had a heart for the Apostle Paul. This week I was talking to an elderly lady, she's down in Colorado, and she prays three hours a day, this 94, 95 year old lady. And she says, I pray for you every day. I was like, pfff. Here's this 94, 95-year-old lady, legally blind, can't read, can't do much, but man, she has a list of several hundred people that she prays for throughout a week. I'm like, what am I, why would this lady, and I don't know her very well, but she prays for us. That means so much. In the church of Philippi, they just, God had knit his heart with Apostle Paul. And they were generous. They continued to help Paul. We see something amazing about these people. They did not have a covetous heart. He says in verse 17 of Philippians chapter 4, you can turn back with me there, this church, they wanted to see souls saved. They wanted churches established. Because what does it mean to go to church? And I'm not talking going to church because that's the thing you're supposed to do. I'm talking going to church and you get to hear the Word of God preached. You get to sing with God's people. You get to fellowship. You see, when you enter into God's house, it ought to be a place, in God's house here, wherever the believers are meeting, but wherever we're meeting, it ought to be a place that is different and distinct from the world. The language is different. Our desire for honoring Christ and giving dignity and honor and respect to each other, it ought to be in God's house. We find something about these believers in Philippi, not because I desire to give, but I desire fruit that may abound to your count. And these believers, they weren't like, oh, Paul's not like, oh, I need more money, I need more money, I need more money. No, that's not what he's doing. They said, Paul, we care about you. We believe in what God has you doing, and we want to get behind you. You see, this church was not selfish. They weren't covetous. It wasn't about materialism. They believed that God gave, and they were to give what God wanted them to give. Paul's ministry was not out of internal persuasion, but a divine calling of God to see those without Christ come to know him. In 1 Corinthians 9, verses 4-16, we read the Apostle Paul calling that those who are pastors, they ought to live of the gospel. They live, pastors. Pastors are paid, right, through churches. But it was not a covetous heart of the Philippian believers, 1 Corinthians 9, 14-16, if you'd like to look at this. And he does talk about this. Some in the ministry, they might be out for the money. You read about that in 1 Corinthians 5 too. He tells the pastors, feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre. You're not doing it to make your millions, but of a ready mind. He says, you know what, when God calls to the ministry, God enables, God provides. Here in 1 Corinthians 9, verse 14, as we read, the Bible says, For necessity is laid upon me, yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel. The Apostle Paul, he said, I'm not doing this for material gain. I'm not doing this to build some great gathering. He says, I'm doing it because God called me to do it. In your personal life, what has God called you to do? First of all, you need to be saved, scripturally baptized, added to a church, and get faithfully served in him. But what has God called you to do specifically? And it's not out for the money. He says, woe unto me. Paul says, if I'm not preaching the gospel, woe. He's saying, cursed am I if I don't preach the gospel. We go, you see, your giving really is an indicator of your heart, verse 18. He says something here in Philippians 4, 18. The giving of the Philippian believers, they were not forced to give. I've read about it, I've heard some people that have come here And they mentioned, they said, oh, I got a bill in the mail from the church saying you owe this amount. I'm like, what in the world? God love the cheerful giver, not under like, give. I'll never get a bill here. But as you think about that, you see, I'm giving because out of a grateful heart. Christians, we ought to be givers, not takers. The love of money is to hate God. The Bible says, for the love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Timothy 6.10. Which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. You see, if an individual is not giving of their time, and I would say their resources, finances, God's called us to give. Giving is a part of living by faith. Now you give, we have tithe, but you give, we have missions. Above and beyond tithing, we give to missions. My wife and I have for a long, long time. I want you to look with me at Luke chapter 22, this idea of giving. The Philippian believers, they get it, they do it with joy. It's not like, oh man, I know I need to give. No, God doesn't want that. He wants your heart into it. How many of you like, you know at Christmas time, And gift giving is given at Christmas time. How many of you like it? Oh, so-and-so gave me a gift. I guess I need to give them a gift too, because they gave me a gift. You ever had that thought? Maybe it's just me. I hope not. But you know, sometimes you're like, oh, I don't want to hurt someone's feelings. I guess they gave me a gift. I need to give them a gift back. God doesn't want that. God wants your heart. And a part of my gift is I realize that 100% of what I get, I get from God. And I give back to Him. As you look at Luke chapter 22, verse 26. Verse 25, and he said unto them, the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them. They that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors, but ye shall not be so. And he that is greatest among you, let him be as a younger, and he that is chief, as he that doth serve, for whether he is greater, he that sitteth at meet, or he that serveth. It's not he that sitteth at meet, but I am among you as he that serveth. The mindset of a believer is I get to serve. Really is that giving is a matter of my affection to the Lord. We know that, you know, the two greatest commandments, love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbors yourself. Now, I understand that oftentimes people think, oh, churches, you know, there's people in the community and maybe not as well financially, but we, the Bible talks about those who are the household of faith, we have a priority upon. Those in the community, sometimes God uses meagerness of finances to bring people closer to himself. Not that it's gonna make you healthy, wealthy, wise. I'm not preaching a prosperity gospel. But giving is a matter of our heart. Service for God does not necessitate a relationship, just because you're doing something for Him. Now, just because someone gives, just because someone goes to church, doesn't mean that you have a right relationship with God. In Matthew chapter 7, verses 21 through 23, not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? This is Matthew 7, 21 through 23. In thy name, I've cast out devils. In thy name, I've done many wonderful works. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. You have to have a relationship. And as a result of that relationship, there ought to be an affection for my wife. I don't do things for her because I have to. I get to. You as a parent, do you do things for your kids because you have to? There's some times, I would imagine. But you know what? It means a whole lot more when you willingly want to do it. If you feel the thumb of God like, I would say, if you're feeling like that, that God's just going like this, just grinding you hard. I would say what we need to do is step back. And I need to learn how to walk with God and get to know Him. I need to get His heart. He already loves me. But what I'm saying is I need to learn about His love for me. And I need to learn, love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. You know what that means? You can trust Him with your heart. You can trust Him with your emotions. You can trust Him that He's not going to let you down. Is He going to do everything the way you want it? No! When I love Him with all my heart, I say, God, here's my heart. You take it, you protect it, you secure it. For many of us, our hearts have been stomped on, trashed, shredded, cut up, beat up, and we have a lot of walls built up around our hearts. But what we see here In this passage of scriptures, the Philippian believers said, God, we love you and we're thankful for you. We understand, we give to you. Here's a gift to the Apostle Paul. Here's a gift, having received of Epaphroditus, the Church of Philippi would send Epaphroditus, the Apostle Paul, to bring a gift. Apostle Paul, we know you're going through a hard time. Here he is in prison. You know what, when you're going through a difficult time, There was a gentleman some years ago, when I was in the military, he was in jail. He was in prison, actually. And every other weekend, I'd go and talk with this man. At first, it was a little awkward. He had done some time in solitary confinement. But I wanted my heart, at the time, to spend time with him as just a chat. I had a very hard home life, and I wanted to be an encouragement. as I give the time and sometimes, you know, snacks or whatever we might do, to encourage. You know what? God puts things and people in our lives at some of our lowest points to encourage us. And the church of Philippi had such a heart. It would cost them of their time. It would cost them of their finances. But you know what? Something happens with giving. Giving challenges your faith. And sometimes we read about the story in Luke chapter 21 about the widow woman who cast in her two mites. And Jesus said this woman cast in more than all the Pharisees. Sometimes it might even, the giving hurts. If you read about the story of Elijah, he goes to this widow woman and she has a little bit of flour, a little bit of oil, and she's out there collecting some sticks to make one last fire to put together for the oil and the flour to make her last loaf of bread for her and her son before they die because there's no money, they have nothing left. Elijah says I want you to you can read about this in first Kings chapter 17, but in this story Elijah says to this lady. He says would you make me a cake first? She has a decision Did you not hear Elijah this is our last little bit of flour And you know what God did she she ended up listening God would multiply that Every day, she had exactly what she needed. When the Bible says in Hebrews 11, verse 6, without faith it's impossible to please them, giving is a part of your faith. I can do more with God and less what I've got, then all of what I've got, I can accomplish less. God promises to supply all our needs. Have you ever read the story of George Mueller? Anyone ever read the story of George Mueller, ever heard the story of him? He was a man there in England, and let me read a little bit about him, I'll tell a little bit more. Like Paul, George Mueller trusted the Lord entirely. This famous Christian philanthropist, he was a man that loved God extremely. He's a Christian philanthropist and he wanted his orphan homes in Bristol, England to be a tangible testimony to an unbelieving world that God was alive and well and still very much in business. To achieve this goal, he refused to make any need known to anyone but God. Mueller would not accept a financial gift from a person he knew to be in debt. Such a donation would also courteously be firmly refused. Another of his principles was to give a full accounting of what he did with all the money he received. George Mueller was a man, he saw these orphans on the street, these kids with no homes, no families, and he said, they need a place, and I want to teach these kids about Jesus. He started a whole bunch of orphan homes in England. Millions of dollars would pour in. Sometimes, in the morning, they'd wake up, the other staff that was there with whom he would pay them, with what had also come in, but he'd pay the staff, Sometimes in the morning, the staff would say, George, there's no food in the cupboards. He'd say, well, let's pray and thank God for the food that we got. There's no food in the cupboards. How can I thank him for it? And sure enough, they'd pray. In one particular instance in his prayer, a milk truck overspill. They needed to get rid of all the milk right then. And boom, they brought in that. A bread truck or something else overspills, and they bring in the bread and the milk that morning, and they thank God for the food that God brought in. He did, there's some things that he did. He would not accept a financial gift, I said, but another of his principles was to give a full accounting of what he did with all the money he received. He would give an account to those. He developed the habit of circulating an annual statement called the Chronicle of the Lord's Dealings with George Mueller. Because this annual statement, which listed every gift, might be construed as a subtle way of hinting for support for the work entrusted to him, Mueller never released the Chronicle to the public until there were more than ample funds in the bank. Never was an issue published when funds were low. He didn't want people to know that his funds were low. He wanted people to see the goodness of God. The offerings, as we would find there in the Old Testament, were intended to speak of Christ. Three especially delighted the heart of God, the meal offering, the peace offering, and the burn offering. I'm reading a quote here from John Phillips in his commentary. In the giving of the law in Leviticus, God began with these three offerings. First of all, the meal offering spoke of Christ and the glory of his flawless humanity. The peace offering spoke of Christ as the peacemaker, bringing God's people into happy fellowship and communion with God and each other. And the burn offering spoke of Christ as being all for God in a way only God himself could fully appreciate. These three sweet savor offerings brought special pleasure to God. You see, in Matthew 25, 45, when I'm giving to God, We give to the church. You're not doing it because I have to. I'm not giving because it makes me a Christian. I'm giving to help me have a better standing so my good outweighs my bad. Your good will never outweigh your bad because we're all sinners. We all have sinned. There's none righteous, no not one, the scriptures tell us. You can't give enough to get yourself to heaven. You just can't. You've got to accept by faith. But as we think about this, many might have a false faith and say, well, I did some good to these least of these. No, my friend. I'm giving because I love. I give time to my wife and daughter because I love. I give to the church, and I give of time and efforts because I love God. I'm gonna ask you tonight, how is your giving to the Lord? How is the giving to your Lord of your time? If you were to give an account of the time and how you spend your days, would any part of that day have time where you're actually meditating in God's word? Not just reading, meditating. Faithful to church services? How is your giving to the Lord of your talents? How are you, how is God, how are you using your life for the Lord? Of your finances, of your life? Where is your heart? Are we investing our lives in others? We've each been given talents to use for the Lord. You see, as we think about these very things, the church of Philippi, they got it. In verse 19, but my God, shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. God promises to meet your need. And we want God to meet our needs. And why out of love would I want to be stingy with what God's given to me? Again, this is not a high-pressure tactic to give. This is a tactic to say, what are you doing with your life and all that God's given you? You do as the Spirit of God leads you to do. And then Paul transitions from talking about this church and their heart for him, heart for missions, heart to see souls saved, and then he transitions in verse 21. Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. He said, you're remembered. He says, I'm so thankful. He lists a few people. He's in bondage. He thanks those as we see, those in Caesar's household. I'm gonna read a little commentary here, I find it interesting. The group of Christians belonging to the household of the emperor seems to have included his slaves, former slaves, and people who filled all kinds of offices connected with his domestic establishment. Paul's reference to this group gives an interesting sidelight on the progress the gospel had made at Rome. In Nero's own court, has anyone ever heard of Nero? Have you ever studied Nero? What a horrible, evil man. He would take Christians, impale them on spikes, dip them in tar, and light them on fire to light the parties that he would have that were absolutely vile. In Nero's own court, with the chambers of his palace, were numerous Christians. Even amongst the most wicked, there's salt, there's light, the aristocracy of heaven. And the Apostle Paul says, they that are of Caesar's household. The Apostle Paul would not allow his conditions to lessen his ability to give out the gospel. And he's essentially saying, tell the family hello. Can I tell you one of the things, I remember when I went into the military and I moved away from home, I was a long ways from home, 24 hours driving. The church family became really family to me. They encouraged me. I remember one such occasion, they had even, at one time, one of the years I was there, they had one particular couple that I had gotten to know through the years, threw a birthday party for me. The first time I went to the church, an elderly fellow who was a retired colonel in the Air Force, we went out to eat and chatted together. Can I tell you, I still talk to that gentleman today, but it was those things of an investment into my life. Church ought to be a place that's sweet with God's people. Paul was very fond of those to whom he'd ministered. You know, Paul concludes in almost all every book Near the end of his letter, he'll say, salute or greet the brethren. He's very fond of those he ministered to. Man, our hearts ought to be close with those we minister. Paul desires for the grace of God. He ends this with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. It begins with the Lord Jesus, as you find in Philippians chapter one. Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints which are in Christ Jesus, which are at Philippi with the bishops and deacons, grace be unto you. And then at the end, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. He wants God's grace on these people. Christianity, after all, is all about Christ. It's not a creed. It's not some mechanical exercise. It's Christ. not just a precept and a principle, it's the person, the most wonderful, glorious person in the universe. Christ had captured Paul's heart. You know, in verse 21 of chapter one, look with me at this. I think this is a very good statement of a summary of Paul. Verse 21. Philippians 121, for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. He says, my life, if it's not lived for Christ, it's nothing. It's really a highlight, for to me, to live is Christ. I want to ask you tonight, as I draw this towards a close, is Christ truly your life? Is it a good story? For to me, to live is Christ. That means my ambitions. That means my relationships, talents, resources, everything is Christ, or to me to live is Christ. And to die is gain, why? Because I get to be with Him. This morning I was on the way to church and One of the passengers in my vehicle, they asked me about Lot. Asked me about Lot's wife. Why did she look, did she really turn into a pillar of salt? And I said, yes, she did. She looked back. And imagine you're on your way to heaven. You've breathed your last breath, you're in heaven. Would you be like Lot's wife looking back? Man, I wish I was back on earth. I wish I was still doing that. You'd say no. Well then why is it now that the world and the tangible things of this world have such an attachment and a passion of your mind? But Christ is of so little value. Paul's continual afflictions and imprisonment and voracious enemies. Paul doesn't dwell on his condition. These enemies, they did me wrong and I'm gonna get them. We don't see that. We find the parting words of Paul as the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. You know, it doesn't matter your condition. It doesn't matter the trial you're going through. May we, like Paul, seek for others to excel. I want my greatest heart, my greatest desire, the greatest joy God's allowed me in pastoring here. I love it when I get to see people. You're from here, and you're growing, and you're Christian walk, and I'm like, woo! I'm excited. You are being who God made you to be. It is awesome to watch the light of Christ. Man, you're just getting it. The Bible reading and living for Christ, you said, it is the way. Man, it's encouraging. God wants to do something. And when we get it, and we let Christ have control of our lives, and the light comes on, you start to, and I see sometimes an empty stare, I see the hardship you're going through, and you begin to get into God's word and apply it, and man, there's just a light and a countenance that comes upon you, and you get excited about the things of God. I gotta tell you, that's contagious. Would you and I have the testimony that I'm concerned for others? May we love the brethren, have a fervency of Paul and ultimately the Lord Jesus Christ. In conclusion, look with me at 1 John 3. The Apostle Paul as he ends this with a big old thank you. Thank you. In 1 John 3, verse 14. If you're sleeping, I probably woke you up. 1 John 3, verse 14. We know that we have passed from death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And we know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, As I think about this, God calls us for a love for the brethren, a heart to seek for the betterment, the spiritual progress of those in the faith, investing ourselves. I want to ask you, Christian, first of all, how is your testimony of giving to the Lord, loving the brethren? Do you moan and groan about other Christians? They're not doing it right. Maybe we pray for them. Maybe we try to see what they're struggling with. May God work in our lives. You know, God may ask you to do things in your life that don't always make sense. But I encourage you, live by faith. Hebrews 11, six, as I mentioned earlier, without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is. He's a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. You see, if we have a thankful heart, we'll be a giving, and there's some people are more giving than others, but we'll still have a giving. God, whatever you ask, I wanna do. And I understand we're all in different stages of our spiritual growth, and we ought to have the patience with each other as we grow. Some of us are a little bit more Rough than others, but you know what? God's still working on us. And I'm thankful you're here. Sometimes things don't make sense. For the Philippians, it didn't make sense. For the churches of Macedonia, it didn't make sense. But they said, Paul, we believe in you. We want to help these churches. This particular week, we have the great opportunity and I would say also the great privilege God's opened a door to reach many kids, many homes with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We get to go from Genesis to the cross and talk about creation against evolution, talk about a God, a creator. It's a tremendous blessing, my friend. And may our hearts be God. I'm all in to serve you. God, I give you my life. As I mentioned this morning, so many of us, we live our lives. It's my life. It's my time. It's my resources. You live with closed hands. And you don't allow God to fill your cup. You don't allow God. We say, God help me! I could sure use some blessings right now! But you're still in control. It's until you get to that place of complete surrender and accountability, you say, God, here I am. Open hands, open heart. I'll obey whatever you want me to do. And you know what that does? When Israel got to that place, they crossed into the promised land. We can allow God to use us You know how all these great missionaries, you hear about William Carey and Adonai Judson and David Livingston. You hear about these missionaries of yesterday. They're just like you and I. They're just individuals that said, God, here's my life. You do with it whatever you want. In the good times and the bad. Is that the God you serve? Is that the God? You say, of course it is. Well, if it is, then do you live that way? As we think about tonight, we're gonna sing number 256. It is well with my soul. But I also wanna give some time for you to pray. Give some time for you to pray. The man who wrote this song lost his two daughters. And it was over the spot, this song came to his mind. In the Chicago fire, he lost two of his daughters. Heartbroken father. 256 in the Blue Hymn Book. I want to give you a time of invitation, some time to pray and talk with the Lord. Number one, do you know for sure that Jesus is your Savior? Is there a time you ask Christ to forgive you? Do you know? Can you give me a Bible reason you know you're saved? And number two, as a Christian, is your life a living thank you, a living sacrifice to God for what He's done? If we're living selfishly, we're not living by faith, we're not trusting God, I encourage you tonight, say, God, here am I. I'm surrendered. I'll do as you want. As the music plays, I trust you to take some time to talk with the Lord and pray. And then after, we'll let stanza of this go through. On stanza two, we'll sing. But if you need to keep praying, I encourage you, keep praying. You don't need to stop. Keep talking with the Lord, however God may have worked in your heart. With heads bowed and eyes closed, I encourage you to take some time to just pray and talk with the Lord.