Phillipians 4:10-20 NET emphasis mine

4:10 I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.) 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance. 4:12 I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. 4:13 I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me. 4:14 Nevertheless, you did well to share with me in my trouble.
4:15 And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 4:16 For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent something for my need. 4:17 I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account. 4:18 For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God. 4:19 And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 4:20 May glory be given to God our Father forever and ever. Amen.

Sharing in God,s Abundance

God’s Plan for Giving
2 Corinthians 8-9

1. It is the only response to God’s grace. 8:1-6
2. It is spiritual gift. 8:7 Romans 12:8
3. It follows the example of the cross. 8:8-9
4. It is proportionate to my income. 8:10-12
5. It blesses others. 8:13-15
6. It should be diligently handled. 8:16-24
7. The giving of others can be our example. 9:1-5
8. The law of sowing and reaping applies. 9:6-11
9. It causes others to praise and thank God. 9:11-15

Three levels of giving.

1. You have to…legalism
2. You want to get back…bartering
3. It gives you joy….maturity

Three kinds of giving

1. Tithes
2. Offerings
3. Left Hand Right Hand

The New Standard

The New Testament standard for giving is far different than some would imagine. It is not giving according to law. Nor is it a barter system to get God to owe you a favor. It is a pure response to love for God the father for the gift of his son as empowered by the Holy Spirit. The gift of giving as mentioned in Romans 12 is a natural extension of the Spirits influence. The great thing of about the practice of this grace is it has no limits. I may be limited in my effectiveness in teaching, preaching or evangelism but I am always able to do above my ability if I first give myself to God.

2 Corinthians 8:1-15 NET

8:1 Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 8:2 that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. 8:3 For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, 8:4 begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints. 8:5 And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 8:6 Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you. 8:7 But as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you – make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too. 8:8 I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others. 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich. 8:10 So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, 8:11 to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete it according to your means. 8:12 For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. 8:13 For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality. 8:14 At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, 8:15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

Sunday's Theme

God is Love (1 John 4:8) and it is the nature of God to love. It is in the nature of love to give. Because he loves He gives. (John 3:16) Loves gives itself in the form of obedience. This is the theme of Sunday's message.

It is the nature of God to Give

What Jesus gives

1. His life Mark 10:45
2. Himself Galatians 1:4
3. His Body Luke 22;19
   

What the Father gives the Son

1. His disciples John 6:37
2. His Name John 17:11
3. All things John 3:35

How God Gives

1. God gives lovingly John 3:16
2. God gives freely Romans 6:23, Matthew 10:8
3. God gives Constantly Matthew 6:11
4. God gives Sacrificially Mark 10:45
5. God gives Willingly Romans 8:32

Open to the grace of God

James 4
I. The Conflict within
a. The War within Vs 1
i. Divorce, Trauma
ii. Violence in Family, neighborhood or Entertainment
b. The desires within Vs. 2
i. The decision making process is affected through changes in the hippocampus and frontal lobe
II. The Conflict with God Vs. 2 & 3
a. Blocked prayers
i. Inability to pray (no concentration)
ii. Only able to think about your own misery
b. Lost fellowship Vs. 4
i. The meaning of adultery Vs. 4
III. The Cure from above
a. Humility Matthew 5:3-6
b. Submission Anything other than putting God in control opens us up to depression.



A list of Symptoms
1. Far from God feeling
2. Impure hearts
3. Double minded
4. Judgmental
5. Living in tomorrow


James 4:17 NKJV
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

James 4:1-17
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? (2) You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. (3) You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. (4) Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (5) Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? (6) But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." (7) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (9) Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (11) Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (12) There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? (13) Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; (14) whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (15) Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." (16) But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. (17) Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin