PHILIPPIANS 4:14-19
HEAVENLY BANKING
The message this morning will not tell you how to get to Heaven. There is only way to Heaven and that's through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In John 14:6 Jesus said …I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
It is Jesus who died for your sins on the cross of Calvary.
It is Jesus only who could pay for the sins and failures in your life because He was sinless. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
It is Jesus who rose from the dead.
It is Jesus who offers forgiveness of sin and everlasting life through faith in Him.
John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
My friend my message is not designed to help you get to Heaven, but what I just told you will. I'm going to begin this message with prayer, and during that prayer I will give you an opportunity to trust Christ if you are unsure of your salvation.
PRAYER
Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
In the course of thirty years of marriage we have seen God provide for our needs at many times and many ways.
One time we needed money to pay a utility bill and the landlady refunded our rent money.
When we didn't have money to pay our taxes, someone perceived the need, loaned us the money, and then changed the loan into a gift.
When we moved to Fonda New York there was no parsonage, so the Lord provided $7,000 so we could make the down payment and even left enough money so we could get a much needed washer and a much needed dryer.
When we moved here we needed to sell the house quickly. We sold the house in two months when the real estate market was flat. The Lord also provided the money we needed to make one extra rent payment and one extra utilities payment before we settled.
When Donna got married we saw the Lord pay for the wedding reception through tax credits we didn't know we qualified for.
Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. - is a Bible verse that is often quoted by Christians.
Philippians 4:19 is all too often taken out of context, without Christians considering any conditions that God might place on the fulfilling of this promise.
Let's consider this verse in light of verses 14-19, which we read earlier. I think of this particular passage as a picture of Heavenly Banking. I see the Christian doing what he should do, and our Heavenly Father responding. Please note that Heavenly Banking:
REQUIRES INVESTMENTS
YIELDS INTEREST
IS FULLY INSURED
HEAVENLY BANKING REQUIRES INVESTMENTS - Vss. 14-16, 18
In verses 10-13, Paul was thanking the believers at Philippi for their financial support. It had been some time since they had helped, but they were again able to do so. Paul did insist, though, that it was God who enabled Paul to flourish whether his financial conditions were good or bad.
Paul did not want the Philippians to think that he didn't need appreciate or their support.
Vs. 14 - Paul says here, "You've done well", or, "You've done a beautiful thing!” They had "communicated" or had fellowship with Paul. They were partners with Paul in his ministry. Their gift made them part of his team.
· Now think of this - when you give a gift to this church you become a partner, you have fellowship with us in whatever we are doing for the Lord. You are part of the team.
· And when you make a faith-promise commitment to missions you become a partner, you have fellowship, with the ten missionaries that we support. You are part of the team.
· If you give an extra gift to the ministry of Matt and Angie Hall or Jim and Susan Beaird, you become a partner, are in fellowship with them.
Like the Philippians, when you support God's workers, you are doing well, you are doing a beautiful thing. You are part of the team.
Vss. 15-16 - When Paul left the Philippians, they supported him financially so he could continue his missionary work. You would think that churches would stand in line to support someone as great as the Apostle Paul, but the only supporting church Paul had was the Philippians.
According to Verse 15, the Philippians communicated with Paul concerning giving and receiving. These two words were banking terms. Today we would use the terms debits and credits. This reminds me that giving is a business transaction. Giving is an investment in God's business!
Say, wouldn't it have been neat to invest in the ministry of the Apostle Paul! Sure it would! But let me tell you something my friend, although we can't invest in Paul's ministry, think of what you are investing in when you give to our missions program here. You are investing in:
1. The evangelization of tribal people in Papua New Guinea through the Halls.
2. The growth of the Christian church in Russia and the training of young people through the Beairds.
3. The evangelization and Christian growth of children in Armstrong County through Child Evangelism Fellowship.
4. The strengthening of believers and the reaching out to unbelievers in Brazil through the Zeebs, Peffers, and Millers.
5. The strengthening of the church in El Salvador through the Lambrights.
6. The evangelization and growth of people in Mexico through the Forceys.
7. The communication of the Gospel in Pakistan through the Nicholsons.
8. The teaching of Evangelistic English classes in Hong Kong through the Swathwoods.
I would say that we are certainly making some worthy investments!
Vs. 18 - Paul had received a generous gift from the Philippians.
Notice how pleased God is when we invest in his work.
Paul calls it "an odor of a sweet smell".
Investments in God's Kingdom made with the right attitude smell good to God!
Investments in God's Kingdom are sacrifices given to God.
Giving to the church and to missions is actually an act of worship!
God is well pleased with the right kind of giving!
God is well pleased with sacrificial giving.
Luke 21:1-4 - And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. [2] And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. [3] And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: [4] For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
God is more interested in percentages than he is in total amounts. This woman gave more, invested more, because she gave out of her poverty. She gave all that she had!
What are God's principles for giving?
In the Old Testament the tithe is mentioned. That's 10 percent. I believe that for us as Christians, the tithe is the logical place to start. Why should we give anything less, having received the wonderful gift of salvation? And I believe that the tithe should go to the local church.
But above the tithe, the investment in the local church, there is the investment we can make in missions around the world. And there are some New Testament principles that help us decide what we should be doing.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. [7] Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
What is true of farming is true of giving. The more seed we plant, the more harvest we reap. The more we invest in the Lord's work, the more we reap in the growth of God's Kingdom.
More about that in a minute!
According to Verse 7, every man is to decide in his own heart what he will give.
If, in my heart, I love God and desire that His work move forward, I will give generously.
If, in my heart, I love God, I will give generously out of appreciation for what he has done for me.
Don't give to the church just because you love the church or to the Halls or the Beairds just because you love the Halls or the Bearids. Don't give to the other missionaries just because you love the other missionaries. Give because you love God!
How much you love God is a good standard for giving.
God doesn't want you to give with a bad attitude, grudgingly.
If you're miserable when you give don't give.
God doesn't want you to give with a forced attitude, out of necessity, because you feel you have to give.
Instead, God wants you to give with a joyful heart!
God loves a cheerful giver!
He doesn't love it when you give grudgingly or out of necessity.
He loves it when you cheerfully invest in God's work.
HEAVENLY BANKING REQUIRES INVESTMENTS
HEAVENLY BANKING YIELDS INTEREST - Vs. 17
Paul is saying here, "I am more interested in your reward than receiving a gift."
When we give with the right attitude and with the right proportion God will allow you to bear fruit both in this life and in the next. God pays interest on your investments for Him.
Paul knew that God rewards those who invest in God's Kingdom.
And there are many Scriptures that prove this.
Proverbs 11:25 - The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Proverbs 19:17 - He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Proverbs 22:9 - He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
2 Corinthians 9:8 - And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
God promises sufficiency so we can abound to every good work.
God multiplies our investments. They gain interest.
Every time the Gospel is presented through the ministry of our missionaries, we have gained interest on our investment.
Every time a soul gets saved through the ministry of one of our missionaries, we have gained interest on our investment.
Every time a believer is caused to grow by the teaching of one of our missionaries, our investment gains interest.
Sometimes God will take what seems to be a small investment and multiply it hundreds and thousands of times over.
"A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it "was too crowded." "I can't go to Sunday School, "she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkept appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday School class. The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.
"Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the parents called for the kind hearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.
"Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting which read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school."
For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.
"But the story does not end there! A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a Realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it for 57 cents.
"Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00 a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends." Source Unkonwn
The minister was Dr. Russel H. Conwell. The church was the Temple Baptist Church in Philadelphia. This is the church out of which came Temple University. Not bad for an investment of 57 cents! J
Imagine what God can do with your investments, if you make them willingly and cheerfully!
Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: [20] But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Money invested in earthly endeavors disappears.
Money invested in the Lord's work reaps eternal rewards.
Giving money does not gain you entrance into Heaven.
Only being born-again by faith can do that.
But giving money to the Lord's work means that God can reward the Christian in Heaven for the investment made on earth.
As someone has well said, "You can't take it with you, but you can send it on ahead!"
And Jesus also tells us that what we do with our money is an indication of where our heart truly is. A heart that truly loves the Lord invests in His work.
HEAVENLY BANKING REQUIRES INVESTMENTS
HEAVENLY BANKING YIELDS INTEREST
HEAVENLY BANKING IS FULLY INSURED - Vs. 19
Now hear me! We should never give to get!
Giving so we can receive is not pleasing to God.
But, when we give sacrificially
When we give cheerfully
When we give out of love first for God, and then for the individual then God promises that our giving is fully insured!
God promises that our needs will be met.
Notice it says "needs" and not "greeds".
God won't provide for our selfishness.
Notice how God will provide for us.
He will take care of ALL our needs and will do it according to His riches in glory.
If you ask a rich man for a donation to your favorite charity and he gives you $10, he has given to you out of his riches. But that's a donation you and I could also give out of our riches.
If you ask a rich man for a donation to your favorite charity and he gives you $50,000, he has given according to his riches. He has given as only a rich man can give.
Get the point? God gives according to His riches. That means that God will give to us generously in order to meet our needs.
Perhaps our thoughts can be summed up with Matthew 6:33,
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
It seems to me that God is saying, "You take care of my business, and I'll take care of yours."
So now we know the principles of Heavenly Banking.
Heavenly Banking:
REQUIRES INVESTMENTS
YIELDS INTEREST
IS FULLY INSURED
Leftovers are such humble things,
We would not serve to a guest,
And yet we serve them to our Lord
Who deserve the very best.
We give to Him leftover time,
Stray minutes here and there.
Leftover cash we give to Him,
Such few coins as we can spare.
We give our youth unto the world,
To hatred, lust and strife;
Then in declining years we give
To him the remnant of our life.
- Source unknown