The Promise of God: (4:14-20):
Paul thanks the church at Philippi for their generous gift. Our gift to God’s work can be compared as follows:
- An investment: (4:14-17): Paul looked on their missionary gift as an investment that would pay them rich spiritual dividends. The church entered into an arrangement of “giving and receiving”; the church gave materially to Paul, and received spiritually from the Lord. The Lord keeps the account books and will never fail to pay one spiritual dividend! The church which fails to share materially with others is a poor church. When we support Missionary work or the Evangelism, we are in fact investing our money, time and energy which will give us great dividends. When we enter into heaven, we can see the results of our investment which God has carefully multiplied. Paul was not much concerned about his gift or the benefits which he had the right to receive from the Philippians church, but he was more concerned about their giving which has a direct effect on extension of God’s kingdom and the prosperity they would realise in heaven (4:17).
- A sacrifice: (4:18). There are also such things as “spiritual sacrifices” in the Christian life (1 Pet.2:5). We are to yield our bodies as spiritual sacrifices (Rom. 12:1-2), as well as the praise of our lips (Heb. 13:15). We need to offer the best things to the Lord. Paul was referring that the gifts sent through Epaphroditus was a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. The church of Philippians were not fully Jews, but they were Romans and Greeks. They have never experienced the O.T sacrifices but they knew about the pagan rituals and sacrifices.
But Paul does not see this gift as simply coming from Philippi. He sees it as the supply of his need from heaven. Paul’s trust was in the Lord. We can say like this: “You met my need, and God is going to meet all your needs.” You gave out of your poverty, but God will supply your needs out of His riches in glory! “God has not promised to supply all our greed.” When the child of God is in the will of God, serving for the glory of God, then he will have every need met. Hudson Taylor often said, “When God’s work is done in God’s way for God’s glory, it will not lack for God’s supply.”
Yes our resources are the providence of God, the power of God, and the promises of God. These resources made Paul sufficient for every demand of life, and they can make us sufficient too. (thoughts taken from BE series NT)
Some practical applications:
- Surrender our mind: to the Lord at the beginning of each day. (Rom. 12:1-2).
- Start our day: by giving our body, mind, and will.
- Allow Holy Spirit: to renew our mind through the Word by systematic reading of the Bible.
- Ask God: to give us the submissive mind that we will need.
- Have inner peace: If we find ourselves losing our inner peace and joy, stop and take inventory, then immediately confess it to the Lord (1 Jn. 1:9). If possible, go back and remedy our mistake. If this cannot be done, ask God to give us another opportunity for witness.
- Guard our mind: (4:8) Remember Paul’s admonition in “Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report think on these things.” When an unkind or impure thought enters our mind, deal with it instantly. One of the best ways to defeat the wrong kinds of thoughts is to fill our mind with Scripture; so take time to memorize the Word of God.
- Remember our joy is for glorifying God: Keep always Jesus First, others second and ourselves; and the result is joy.
Bibliography:
- NIV Life application Bible.
- ESV Study Bible
- Ryrie study Bible.
- NIV Study Bible.
- Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament.
- The Bible Exposition Commentary by Warren W. Wiersbe
- Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary.
- Adam Clarke’s Commentary
- Wycliffe Bible commentary.
- Mathew Henry conscise.
- Blue letter Bible by David Guzik.
- Unlocking the Bible by David Pawson.
- The outline Bible by Harold L Willmington.
Note: Please use this notes only as an outline, but spend more time studying the Word of God. For your questions please contact, Kati Ravikumar, Mob: +918986873994; Email: katiravikumar@gmail.com