An Investment That Is Out Of This World

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Acts 1:8 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Philippians 4:10–20 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 15 Now ye 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. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

INTRODUCTION: Remember who Paul is writing to here. These are the Christians at Philippi. The Philippian Jailer, Lydia, the little slave girl who Paul had cast the demon out of. What joy it must have been when they first recieved the letter from Paul.

Now at the end of the letter Paul has a very specific thing he wants to say to these dear friends and co-labours in Christ. They have generously given him a gift, a love offering that has been delivered by Epaphroditus. He wants them to understand that this is not just a gift of a sum of money and goods. It isn’t just a way of being a blessing to God’s man. It isn’t just caring for a friend.

What we see here is:

An Investment That Is Out Of This World

I. The Passion Of The Investment

Philippians 4:10 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

CAREFUL: Provident; attentive to support and protect

PROVIDENT: Foreseeing wants and making provision to supply them

There was a desire on the part of the Philippian church to continue to support Paul, their “founder” if you will and missionary, even thought at this time he was in prison.

It ought to be a natural desire of a church body to support missions around the world.

II. The Praise Of The Investment

Philippians 4:11–14 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

On the part of the recipient - the missionary - NEVER should the motive be to get money so they can “live it up.” Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Paul goes on in Philippians 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

While it is true that this is Paul communicating his personal gratitude to the Philippians, it is also true that it was still by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that he wrote these words. 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

I’m sure Paul knew the command of Jesus that Luke had written in Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

This gift was PART of the Philippian Church fulfilling that command.

III. The Proceeds Of The Investment

Philippians 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 6 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. 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:

Galatians 6:7–10 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

I Googled “why should I Invest”. This answer from Wells Fargo was the first thing to come up in the search results. “Investing is an effective way to put your money to work and potentially build wealth. Smart investing may allow your money to outpace inflation and increase in value. The greater growth potential of investing is primarily due to the power of compounding and the risk-return trade-off.”

Investing is an effective way to put your money to work and potentially build wealth.

When you invest in the work of the Lord there is no such thing as, “potentially build wealth.” This world’s investment managers say, “invest your money with us and hopefully we can give you more back than you gave us.” God says, “Invest your all in Me and My work, and your rewards will be eternal in the Heavens.”

Smart investing may allow your money to outpace inflation and increase in value.

When you invest in the work of the Lord it is guaranteed that your money, time, energy, and everything will outpace any inflation this world has ever known and will increase in value! You may not see it on this earth, but some day in Heaven I am convinced that you will have people from all walks of life, from all over the earth come and express their gratitude that you gave so a missionary could give them the Gospel!

The greater growth potential of investing is primarily due to the power of compounding and the risk-return trade-off.

Risk-return trade-off: the potential return rises with an increase in risk.

This is where we must part ways Wells Fargo. When you invest in the Lord’s work THERE IS NO RISK!!!!

Isaiah 55:10–11 10 For as the rain cometh down, And the snow from heaven, And returneth not thither, But watereth the earth, And maketh it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

IV. The Provision Of The Investment

Philippians 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

This investment is one that provides for the missionary on this side of eternity.

V. The Promise Of The Investment

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Paul knew that his God was their God and no one could out give Him. His God was rich in glory and would allow nothing to happen that might diminish His glory. Out of His unfailing treasury He would supply their need. The Philippians had a double guarantee: the guarantee of God’s character and the guarantee of God’s Son. Even on the temporal level they were bound to be gainers by giving to God. - John Phillips

This is not “health, wealth, and prosperity.” It is simply that if we obey God, and follow the commands that He has given in His words, He will supply all of our needs.

What are our needs?

1 Timothy 6:8 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

If we really want to get right down to the true basic facts, this is it. ANYTHING ABOVE THIS IS JUST EXTRA BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US!

Never the less, we have this promise just as the Philippians did. God will supply all our need ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY IF WE DO WHAT HE SAID.

VI. The Purpose Of The Investment

Philippians 4:20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen

What we do is not for our own pleasure anyway. One songwriter said it this way, “Inside my heart, there burned a question, “what was I placed on earth here for?” It truly was to build a kingdom, not of my own but of the Lord’s.”

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