Supporting the Mission
Notes
Transcript
Exodus 12 and Exodus 35
Then David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly. David said, May you be blessed, Lord God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor come from you, and you are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.
Now therefore, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand.
Everything we have comes from God and it is our privilege to give some of it back.
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it.
I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself.
I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.
I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.
Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.
And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone.
For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times.
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account.
But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
God uses his people to fund his mission.
The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.
Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.
As it is written: He distributed freely; he gave to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.
Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.
For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone.
And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
We reap in proportion to what we sow.
We invest in what we care about.
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Are you being obedient to what God is asking you to give?
Is God calling you to give an offering above your tithe?
Will you sowing generously?