Partners in Giving (Commitment Sunday)�
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 27th November 2010
Passage: Philippians 4:10-23
00:00:00 --> 00:00:13 As Chris said right at the beginning that there is an agenda tonight and so I'm going to pray about that because it's not an agenda that we like to hear about when you start talking about money.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:18 So let's pray and commit our time together to God as we open up the scriptures.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 Father God, we need your help tonight.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:35 Your word is just so clear on the issue that we are about to look at from your scriptures.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:42 Lord, from the words, from the very mouths of the Lord Jesus, he said,
00:00:42 --> 00:00:47 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet to forfeit his soul?
00:00:48 --> 00:00:53 From the mouth of Jesus, he also said that it is impossible to serve both God and money.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 And yet, Father, we have tried.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 And Lord, so we need your help to see this issue clearly.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:08 We need to see what a treasure we have in you
00:01:08 --> 00:01:17 and what trifling in comparison it is to have our treasures in this world.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:23 How much we give up when we pursue things of this world instead of you.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:28 Lord, we want to be content and our contentment needs to come from you.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:38 And so we ask you, Father, now as we open your word that by your spirit that you might enable us to see and believe and obey.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 Change us, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:52 A couple of months ago, we had our diocesan mission, sorry, our diocesan synod,
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 sort of like the parliament of the Anglican Church in Sydney.
00:01:55 --> 00:02:01 And the highlight for me was what they call Mission Hour.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 And there was a Bible college lecturer there,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:08 he might have even been the principal, I think, of a Bible college, I'm not really sure, in Uganda.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:13 And he was talking about the significant impact that our partnership,
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 that is the partnership of Sydney Diocese,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:20 had with this Ugandan college and the Ugandan church.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 I can't remember a lot of stuff that he said.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 He was certainly enthusiastic and quite funny.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:32 But one thing that he did say was he quoted a Ugandan proverb which goes like this.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 If you want to go fast, go alone.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 If you want to go far, go together.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 If you want to go fast, go alone.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 If you want to go far, go together.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:52 And I thought that that is a great summary of this commitment series.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:59 This whole commitment series has been tied together with the idea of partnership.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:04 In fact, it's been titled, the title of it has been Partners for Life.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 It's in the end about going far together.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:12 And today we have Commitment Sunday and it is the climax of the series.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:18 And what we will see is that as Paul started on the note of partnership,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 so he ends on the note of partnership.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:25 And specifically he ends with financial partnership.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:31 And so we're going to talk about money and about financial partnership here at St. Paul's tonight.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:40 I do that being mindful that Christians have had varying views and attitudes towards money over the years.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:47 There are those who believe that, in fact, poverty was a sign of being truly Christian.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:51 And so many people made vows of poverty, gave away all their possessions.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:57 We won't dwell too much on that level because most of us don't think that's a popular option nowadays.
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 Certainly not in the Western world.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:05 On the other hand, many have gone to the opposite extreme and say that God wants you to be rich.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:11 In fact, if you're not rich, then you're clearly not displaying enough faith in God.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 He's not pushing you enough and you're not trusting him enough.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:18 Now, of course, you know, they're two extreme opinions.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:23 And, of course, we can see the failures of the poverty one and we can see the failure of the rich one.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:28 You know, we can certainly name people potentially who have taken that to extreme
00:04:28 --> 00:04:32 or teachers who have taken it to extreme and said that God wants them to have private jets
00:04:32 --> 00:04:37 and luxury cars and fancy hotels and, you know, that sort of stuff.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:43 And, of course, most of us would see that and go, we don't agree with that.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 Now, that's just way at the other end.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 That's an extreme.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 We wouldn't agree with that.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 But it would be good if we came back a couple of steps.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:57 And, you know, God wants us to be nicely comfortable.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 That would be a good Christian position.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 Because in the end, that's where most of us sit in the Western world.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 How do we respond?
00:05:04 --> 00:05:10 In the end, we're stuck in the middle there somewhere making excuses and getting confused about money.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 And so we launch into Philippians 4.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 And Paul's got some good stuff to say to us about money.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 He's got some good stuff to say to us about financial partnership.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 Let's begin in verse 10.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:27 So you need to get your Bibles and open and turn to Philippians 4 if you're not already there.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:29 Verse 10.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:55 So Paul takes the opportunity right at the end of this letter to thank the Philippian church for their partnership and their supporting of him financially.
00:05:55 --> 00:06:01 He also tells them something here really interesting in giving thanks to them.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:01 He says,
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 I have learned the secret of contentment.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:14 Let me say that that is something that our world and dare say potentially all of us sitting in this room right now need to learn.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 We still need to learn this one.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 A few verses earlier, Paul talks about anxiety.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 We looked at that last week.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:27 Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your request to God.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:32 And anxiety is a fearful uncertainty about the future.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 It might be a short-term future or a long-term future.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 It's a fearful uncertainty over the future.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:48 Discontentment, on the other hand, normally arises from ongoing and unchanging circumstances that we can do nothing about.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:53 It's a feeling of powerlessness about circumstances that I don't like.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 It might be an unfulfilling or a low-paying job.
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 It might be singleness.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 It might be the inability to bear children.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 It might be an unhappy marriage.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 It might be physical disabilities.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 It might be poor health.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 It might be the in-laws.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 Who knows?
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 I mean, it could be anything, really.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:15 Now, I don't want to minimize the pain and the complexities and the difficulties of those issues.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:24 But what the Bible says clearly here is that it is possible to be content in spite of those issues.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:31 In any and every circumstance, it is possible to know contentment.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:36 What then is the secret of this contentment?
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 Notice first what Paul says in verse 12.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 I know what it is to be in need.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 I know what it is to have plenty.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:49 I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:54 He says, it doesn't matter if I'm wealthy or whether I'm bankrupt.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 It doesn't matter if I pass my exams or fail my exams.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 It doesn't matter if I've got a job or I'm on welfare.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:03 It doesn't matter if I'm driving the Mercedes or I'm taking public transport.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 It doesn't matter if I shop at DJ's or at the $2 shop.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 It doesn't matter.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:19 He's saying that his contentment has not got anything to do with his circumstances of his life, the external circumstances.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:25 How then is it possible for him to be content in any and every circumstance?
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 Verse 13.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:31 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 That's how it's possible for a boy to be content.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:39 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:44 So he says, I've learned contentment in any and every circumstance.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:52 And I can do it because in everything he gives me the strength.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:58 Now, it's important not to take this verse out of context.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:03 It's one of those verses which gets thrown around, applied to all sorts of different circumstances of life.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:06 You go to Coorong, it's on mugs and all that sort of stuff.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 You know, it's just one of those things that gets brandished around.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 Don't worry, brother.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 You know, you can do everything through him who gives you strength.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:15 I can leap tall buildings through him who gives me strength.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 I mean, that's not how this verse should be applied.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:23 Paul is saying, God strengthens me to be content in any and every situation.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:30 His contentment is wrapped up with God's enabling of him to be content.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:35 That is, his contentment is wrapped up in his relationship with God.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:42 Paul could be content in every circumstance, whatever the circumstance,
00:09:42 --> 00:09:48 because he is thoroughly assured that God is at work in and through them.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:55 And therefore, there is a willingness to accept God's hand no matter what it is.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 Because God disciplines those he loves.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 God is at work in this situation.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:08 And so there's a willingness to accept God's hand in whatever the circumstance is.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:12 As one writer put it, or one person,
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 actually, this little quote, this little prayer,
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 captures contentment so beautifully.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:24 This was a prayer that was written by one Christian man to another Christian man
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 who had just lost his wife.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 And frankly, if I was in this sort of scenario,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 I would hope someone would write a similar note to me.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 And he said, my friend, pray this prayer.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:41 Lord, I am willing to receive what you give,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 lack what you withhold,
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 and relinquish what you take.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 Isn't that powerful?
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 Lord, I am willing to receive what you give,
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 to lack what you withhold,
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 and relinquish what you take.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:06 It is possible to do all of those things,
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 to receive, to lack,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:13 and to relinquish through him who gives me the strength.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 That is the secret of contentment.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 And it is the promise for all Christians.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 Flick back in your Bibles to chapter 1 where we began.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:29 Six weeks ago.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 Verse 4.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 In all my prayers for all of you,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 I always pray with joy
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 because of your partnership in the gospel
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 from the first day until now,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 being confident of this,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 that he who began a good work in you
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 will carry it on to completion
00:11:48 --> 00:11:51 until the day of Christ Jesus.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:54 What Paul is saying there is
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 that when God starts a work in someone,
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 he finishes the job.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:03 God is at work in all the circumstances of life,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:06 shaping and directing our lives
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 for our good and for his glory.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 Things will always work out
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 according to God's plan.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 He's never got his hands
00:12:16 --> 00:12:19 off the steering wheel of our lives.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 He's directing it always.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 And so,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 in amongst all of those issues,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 in amongst all the difficulties,
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 in amongst all the things that would cause me
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 to want to be discontent,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 the promise of God
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 and the challenge, I think, for us
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 is in chapter 4, verse 19.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 And my God will meet all your needs
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 according to his glorious riches
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 in Christ Jesus.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 You see, Paul says that he is content.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 He's learnt the secret of contentment.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 And we too can be content
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 if, like Paul,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:03 we trust that all our needs
00:13:03 --> 00:13:06 are met in the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 All of them.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:14 You can't do better than that.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 Money can't meet your needs.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:21 A relationship can't meet your needs.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 Significance doesn't meet your needs.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:29 And how does God meet our needs?
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 It says it right there.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:33 According to his glorious riches
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 in Christ Jesus.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 Everything that we need
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 right now
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 for a life of contentment
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 has already been given to us
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 in Christ.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 There is, therefore,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 no excuse.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:52 This is such an important promise
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 for us to hear again
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 and again
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 and again
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 and again
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 because we live in a culture
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 that is driving us
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 to a life of discontentment.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 it pushes us
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 in that direction.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 The bottom line is
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 that the accumulation
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 of possessions
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 is where happiness is.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 I hope you realise
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 that that's what advertising
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 is all about.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 Advertising has the state of desire
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 to make you discontent.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 It wants you to be discontent.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 Otherwise,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 how else is it going to sell
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 its product to you
00:14:25 --> 00:14:28 unless you think you need this
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 for your happiness?
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 for your security?
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 For your significance?
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 They tap into that bit
00:14:38 --> 00:14:41 where I need to be happy.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 I need to be secure.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 I need to feel significant.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 And so the advertising industry
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 drives you
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 towards discontentment.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 And the consequence is
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 that there is this
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 almost infallible human rule.
00:14:57 --> 00:15:01 spending expands
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 to fill the income.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 If you make more money,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:11 you buy more things.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 And the things that you buy
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 have to be stored,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 insured,
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 or repaired.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 Or unrepaired.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:23 In other words,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 spending begets spending.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 If you have less
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 at your disposal,
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 you spend less.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 Most of the time
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 we don't even think about it.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 And we,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 my friends,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 have followed the world.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 We have followed our culture.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:47 If this is true,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 if expenses
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 almost inevitably
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 expand to fill the income,
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 how will we
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 restrain ourselves
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 from accumulating
00:15:57 --> 00:15:59 more and more stuff?
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 And not just more and more stuff,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 but more and more
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 expensive stuff.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:06 The answer is
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 that as our income
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 grows,
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 we resolve
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 to give a greater
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 and greater percentage
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 of our income
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 to advance the kingdom.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 Let me tell you,
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 that is what puts
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 the brakes on
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 our natural impulse
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 towards luxury.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 We all have
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 a natural impulse
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 towards luxury.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:33 once upon a time
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 you used to just
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 buy a couch.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 Now you can buy
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 a couch
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 that becomes
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 your body temperature
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 within seven seconds.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 That's impressive.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 That's the kind of couch
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 I want to sit on
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 in the middle of winter.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 When we pursue
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 radical generosity,
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 as I'm suggesting
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 we should,
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 it puts a
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 restrictor
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 on our
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 ever-expanding
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 spending.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 And so friends,
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 let me challenge you
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 with the life
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 of John Wesley.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 Let's pick him
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 as an example.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 He was one of the
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 greatest evangelists
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 in the 18th century.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 In 1731,
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 he began
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 to limit
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 his expenses
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 so that he would
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 have more money
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 to give to the poor.
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 In the first year,
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 his income
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 was 30 pounds
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 and he found
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 he could live
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 on 28 pounds
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 and so he gave
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 away 2 pounds.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 In the second year,
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 his income
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 doubled
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 but he held
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 his expenses
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 even
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 and so
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 he had 32 pounds
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 to give away.
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 Equivalent
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 and at that time,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 equivalent
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 to a comfortable
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 life's income.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 income.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 So in other words,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 he had two
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 and he had
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 enough income
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 to support
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 two comfortable
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 family lives
00:18:03 --> 00:18:06 and so he gave
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 away one.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 In the third year,
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 his income
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 jumped to 90 pounds
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 and he gave away
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 62 pounds.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 In his long life,
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 Wesley's income
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 advanced as high
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 as 1 pounds
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 in a year
00:18:20 --> 00:18:23 but he rarely
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 ever allowed
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 his expenses
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 to rise
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 above 30 pounds
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 a year.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 He said that
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 he seldom
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 had more than
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 100 pounds
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 in his possession
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 at any time
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 and this
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 so baffled
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 the English
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 tax commissioners
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 that they
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 decided to
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 investigate him
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 in 1776
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 insisting
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 that for a man
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 of his
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 substantial income
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 he must have
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 silver dishes
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 that he was
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 not paying
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 excise tax on
00:18:55 --> 00:18:58 and so he
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 wrote to the
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 English tax collectors
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 I have two
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 silver spoons
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 in London
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 and two
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 in Bristol.
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 This is all
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 the plate
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 that I have
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 at present
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 I shall not
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 buy any more
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 while so many
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 around me
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 want bread.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 I will not
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 buy another
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 plate to put
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 bread on
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 when people
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 around me
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 don't even
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 have the
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 bread.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 When he
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 died in
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 1791
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 at the age
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 of 87
00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 the only
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 money that
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 is mentioned
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 in his
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 will
00:19:33 --> 00:19:35 are the
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 coins
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 that were
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 in his
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 pocket
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 when he
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 died
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 and the
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 coins
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 in his
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 dresser
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 drawer.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 The thing
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 that filled
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 his will
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 was his
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 theological
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 works
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 and his
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 books.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 He figured
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 someone ought
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 to get
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 those.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 The rest
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 of it
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 didn't
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 matter.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 Most of
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 the 30
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 pounds he
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 had earned
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 in his
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 life had
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 been given
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 away and
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 he had
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 not
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 needed
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 for
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 anything.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 Should we
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 be surprised
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 by that
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 when God
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 says I
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 will meet
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 all of
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 your needs?
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 And so
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 Paul's
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 attitude
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 towards money
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 here is
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 tied up
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 in his
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 relationship
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 with God.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 His attitude
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 towards contentment
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 is tied up
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 in his
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 relationship
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 with God.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 We also
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 notice that
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 Paul's
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 attitude
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 to money
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 is also
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 tied up
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 in his
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 relationship
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 with the
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 Philippian
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 church.
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 Have a look
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 there at
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 verse 14.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 Yet it was
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 good of you
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 to share
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 in my
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 troubles.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 Moreover,
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 as you
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 Philippians
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 know,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 in the early
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 days of
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 your
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 acquaintance
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 with the
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 gospel,
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 when I
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 set out
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 from
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 Macedonia,
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 not one
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 church
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 shared
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 with me
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 in the
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 matter
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 of giving
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 and receiving
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 except you
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 only.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 For even
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 when I
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 was in
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 Thessalonica,
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 you sent
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 me aid
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 again and
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 again
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 when I
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 was in
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 need.
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 I want
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 you to
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 notice two
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 words there.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 Verse 14,
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 the word
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 share.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 Verse 15,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 the word
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 share.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 Both of
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 those words
00:21:09 --> 00:21:12 are the
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 exact same
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 word which
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 in chapter
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 one is
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 translated
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 partnership.
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 And so
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 Paul begins
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 on the note
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 of partnership
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 in chapter
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 one and
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 he ends
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 on the note
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 of partnership
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 towards the
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 end of
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 chapter four.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 it's the
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 same word
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 that we
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 use for
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 fellowship,
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 for sharing,
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 for partnership,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 it's the
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 same word
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 that he
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 has in
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 mind here.
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 The
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 partnership
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 that he
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 has in
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 mind here
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 is that
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 of expressing
00:21:36 --> 00:21:39 the matter
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 of giving
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 and receiving
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 of financial
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 help.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 This
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 partnership
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 is seen
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 in the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 willingness
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 of God's
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 people
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 parting
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 with their
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 money,
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 their God
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 given money
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 to help
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 them support
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 gospel ministry.
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 is that
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 what comes
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 in mind
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 when you
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 think of
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 the word
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 fellowship?
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 I mean
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 because for
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 some of us
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 it's kind
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 of what we
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 do on the
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 deck over
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 tea and
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 biscuits.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 For some
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 of us
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 it's what
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 we call
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 the youth
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 group,
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 the youth
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 fellowship.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 For some
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 of us
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 it's just
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 the nice
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 feeling of
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 intimacy we
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 have between
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 Christian
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 people.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 I had a
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 strong sense
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 of fellowship
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 with that
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 person.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 Now it
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 may include
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 some of
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 those things
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 but when
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 the Bible
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 often talks
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 about
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 fellowship
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 as being
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 a partner
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 that is
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 expressed
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 in terms
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 of dollars
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 and cents.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 Maybe that
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 means that
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 we should
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 start using
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 the word
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 partnership
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 rather than
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 fellowship
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 so that
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 we as a
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 church
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 grasp
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 the need
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 to put
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 our money
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 where our
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 mouth is.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 So let
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 me give you
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 three things
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 that lead
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 Christian people
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 to part
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 with their
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 money for
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 gospel ministry.
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 Number one,
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 an understanding
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 that your
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 money is
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 not your
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 own.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 It is
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 God's.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 It comes
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 from God's.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 It's all
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 his.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 It is
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 purely as
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 John said
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 a gift
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 from God
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 for the
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 glory of
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 his name.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 Not for
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 your comfort
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 but his
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 glory.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 It is
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 God's
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 gift.
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 You've got
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 your job
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 because God
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 gives you
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 that job.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 You've got
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 your welfare
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 because God
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 allows the
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 government
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 to have
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 enough money
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 to pay
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 for that
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 welfare
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 and the
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 laws that
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 allow it.
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 You've got
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 your skills
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 because God
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 has given
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 you those
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 skills.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 It's
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 all
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 God's.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 Number two,
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 the gospel
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 itself.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 When you
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 recognize the
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 enormous generosity
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 of God
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 towards you
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 in rescuing
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 from eternal
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 punishment in
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 hell and
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 giving you
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 all the
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 riches
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 of the
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 Lord Jesus
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 Christ,
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 it moves
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 your heart
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 towards
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 generosity.
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 Gratitude.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 Number three,
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 contentment.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:48 contentment
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 will lead
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 you to
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 part with
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 money and
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 to give
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 it to
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 others
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 because when
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 you can
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 trust God
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 whatever the
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 circumstances
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 that you
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 find in
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 your life,
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 then you
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 realize that
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 you don't
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 actually have
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 to hang
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 on to
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 your last
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 dollars and
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 cents.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 He's in
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 control.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 My friends,
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 Christ has
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 set us free
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 from the
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 love of
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 money,
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 the slavery
00:24:13 --> 00:24:15 to money
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 in order
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 that we
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 might be
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 able to
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 be givers,
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 that we
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 might be
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 generous
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 people and
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 it is so
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 liberating not
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 to be
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 enslaved by
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 the thing
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 that enslaves
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 our culture.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 It helps
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 us to get
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 out of the
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 spiral of
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 looking to
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 my needs
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 first,
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 considering my
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 needs before
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 I consider
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 even the
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 needs of
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 other people.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 So if
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 that is the
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 case, if
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 it is such
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 an enormous
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 privilege,
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 to be
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 involved in
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 gospel
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 partnership
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 in such
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 a way,
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 why is it
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 that churches
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 are nearly
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 always under
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 resourced?
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 Why is it
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 that missionaries
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 have to return
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 home because
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 of lack of
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 funds?
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 Why do
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 Christian
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 organisations
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 waste time
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 on fundraisers
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 and fairs
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 and Lamington
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 drives in order
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 just to raise
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 a few bucks
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 to pay the
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 bills?
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 Why is
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 that?
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 I can only
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 imagine that
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 we have lost
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 the wonder of
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 the gospel
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 and the
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 privilege of
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 gospel
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 partnership.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 And so
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 what we're
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 doing today
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 is we are
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 putting it
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 out there
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 as we did
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 last year
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 on display
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 that we
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 treasure Jesus
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 more than the
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 things of this
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 world.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 Today we are
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 pledging our
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 giving for the
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 next year on
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 the commitment
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 cards and
00:25:37 --> 00:25:39 it's not
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 about having
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 a balanced
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 budget for
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 next year.
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 That is not
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 what this is
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 about.
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 This is about
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 partnership in
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 the gospel
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 here at St.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 Paul's and
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 beyond.
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 What we want
00:25:50 --> 00:25:52 to see is
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 we want to
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 see Christ
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 treasured by
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 more and
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 more people.
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 And so let
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 me read to
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 you our
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 core value
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 of radical
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 generosity.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 generosity.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 Our gifts,
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 possessions,
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 finances and
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 time belong
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 to God.
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 We will
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 therefore use
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 them for his
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 glory and not
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 for our
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 comfort.
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 We desire to
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 be like the
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 Macedonians
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 whose joy in
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 Christ through
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 extremely difficult
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 circumstances
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 resulted in
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 rich generosity
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 towards others.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 We believe that
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 in a world that
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 loves money a
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 lifestyle of
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 radical generosity
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 proclaims that
00:26:27 --> 00:26:29 Jesus is our
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 greatest treasure.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 We believe that
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 it is the
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 responsibility of
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 all Christians
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 to pay what
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 they owe,
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 support those
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 who teach the
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 word of God,
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 provide faithfully
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 for their family
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 and be generous
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 to the poor and
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 needy and support
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 the wider work
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 of the gospel
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 in the world.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 We value
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 sacrificial,
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 enthusiastic,
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 joyful,
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 regular giving
00:26:49 --> 00:26:51 in response to
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 the gospel of
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 grace.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 My friends,
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 when it all
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 boils down,
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 money is a
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 matter of faith
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 for the
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 Christian.
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 It is not a
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 financial issue.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 It is a
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 spiritual issue.
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 And the
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 question is,
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 do we
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 actually trust
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 the promises
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 of God?
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 Do we
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 treasure Jesus
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 more than
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 the gifts
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 that he gives
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 us?
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 In such a way
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 that if he
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 removed all
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 the gifts,
00:27:25 --> 00:27:27 I would still
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 be able to
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 say rejoice
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 in the Lord,
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 I say it
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 again,
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 rejoice,
00:27:32 --> 00:27:34 because my
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 contentment is
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 in Christ.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 And so I
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 appeal to you
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 some pause to
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 trust God.
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 He will never
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 leave you or
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 forsake you.
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 He will supply
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 all of your
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 needs.
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 And so
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 tonight we've
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 heard an
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 encouraging
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 testimony from
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 John.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 God's
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 love.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 It's great to
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 hear those
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 words.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 After the
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 10 o'clock
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 service this
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 morning, I
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 was out on
00:28:01 --> 00:28:03 the deck and
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 a lady came
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 up to me who
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 is a pensioner
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 and she said,
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 I was so
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 challenged last
00:28:10 --> 00:28:12 year that I
00:28:12 --> 00:28:14 too decided to
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 double my
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 giving.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:18 And she
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 said, you
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 know what
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 God did?
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 Gave me two
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 more dogs.
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 And I
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 went, you
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 need to
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 explain that
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 one.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 What did
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 you sell the
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 dogs or
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 something?
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 No, she
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 said, I
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 walk dogs.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 That's how I
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 get some
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 cash.
00:28:35 --> 00:28:37 I walk
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 people's dogs
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 for them.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 And God
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 gave me two
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 more dogs to
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 walk and I
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 was able to
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 meet my
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 commitment.
00:28:42 --> 00:28:45 What a
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 wonderful
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 testimony.
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 A year ago
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 I stood here
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 and I declared
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 that Natalie
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 and I would
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 be contributing
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 $650 a
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 month to the
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 ministry of
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 St Paul's.
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 I did that
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 because 1
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 Chronicles 29
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 leads me to
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 do that.
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 I've written
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 about this,
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 1 Chronicles 29
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 where King
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 David led
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 the people of
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 God in
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 giving generously
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 to the
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 building of
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 the temple.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 And I
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 said then,
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 as I say
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 again now,
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 that I'm the
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 only one
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 who will
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 publicly
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 declare my
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 giving because
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 I am your
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 leader.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 I want you
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 to know that
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 this issue is
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 one about
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 accountability and
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 so you need
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 to know that
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 I am seeking
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 to put my
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 money where
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 my mouth
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 is.
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 I'm seeking
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 to lead us
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 in radical
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 generosity as
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 I'm seeking
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 to lead us
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 in all the
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 other core
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 values of
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 this church.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 Last year,
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 or sorry,
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 this year,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 this past year
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 has been
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 tough financially
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 for Natalie
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 and I.
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 for a few
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 months,
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 we lived
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 week by
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 week,
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 juggling
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 the timing
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 of paying
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 the bills
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 and even
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 juggling
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 when we
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 could go
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 and buy
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 groceries.
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 We literally
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 lived week
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 by week.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 By God's
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 grace,
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 as much as
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 we were
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 tempted in
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 amongst the
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 course of
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 this year,
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 we did
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 not pull
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 back on
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 the 650
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 a month.
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 We made
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 a decision
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 that you
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 do not
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 pull back
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 on that,
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 we've got to
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 pull back on
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 the spending
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 instead.
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 That's where
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 we pull
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 back.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 We start
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 cutting stuff
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 out of our
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 life.
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 And by
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 God's grace,
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 we are on
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 track to
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 finish this
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 year better
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 than what
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 we started
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 this year.
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 And I say
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 it's by God's
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 grace because
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 I've got no
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 idea how it
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 happened.
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 It's not
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 because of my
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 wheeling and
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 dealing or
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 anything else.
00:30:33 --> 00:30:36 And in
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 fact,
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 we would
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 say that
00:30:37 --> 00:30:39 we're
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 finishing
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 this year
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 better than
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 we can
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 think of
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 in the
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 last five
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 years.
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 God has
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 done it and
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 he's done
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 it in
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 unexpected
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 ways.
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 Our
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 response to
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 God's
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 generosity to
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 us this
00:30:51 --> 00:30:53 year is
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 to pledge
00:30:54 --> 00:30:56 $675 a
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 month next
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 year.
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 We're going
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 to up it
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 just a bit,
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 but we're
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 going to
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 up it in
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 view of
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 Nat's
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 income
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 decreasing by
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 $10.
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 So we're
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 going to
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 lose money
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 and we're
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 tending to
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 give more.
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 I expect
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 God's going
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 to push
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 us again
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 in this
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 next year,
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 but by
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 God's
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 grace,
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 he will
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 enable us
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 as he
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 says he
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 would to
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 be content
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 in any
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 and every
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 circumstance.
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 Do you
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 trust the
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 promises of
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 God?
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 I appeal
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 to you,
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 Sir Paul,
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 to trust
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 God.
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 God's
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 love.
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 He will
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 never fail
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 you,
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 he will
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 never forsake
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 you,
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 and the
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 promise is
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 he will
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 supply all
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 of your
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 needs.
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 In Christ
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 you have
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 everything
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 you need
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 for a
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 life of
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 contentment.
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 And so
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 my friends,
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 you know
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 my pledge.
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 You know
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 that of the
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 leaders.
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 I told you
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 last week,
00:31:53 --> 00:31:55 $6
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 a week
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 from the
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 leadership of
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 St Paul's
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 staff and
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 parish council.
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 And so
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 now I
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 call you
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 to follow
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 them into
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 a life of
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 radical
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 generosity.
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 Thank you.
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 Thank you.
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 Thank you.
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 Thank you.
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 Thank you.
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 Thank you.