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Guest (Male): Encouraging us not to forget why God blesses, here's Pastor Thom Keller.

Pastor Thom Keller: Always remember this folks, every advantage, every talent that you have been given by God is always so you can share that talent or that advantage with others. Always.

It's never primarily for you. Not primarily. And the more faithful you are in doing so, the more you will be given so that you can keep sharing with others.

Guest (Male): Some tend to count their problems and not their blessings. God knows your needs and promises to provide for them. Till then, there are some practical steps to take and lessons to learn.

We'll hear about them on today's Study the Word with Pastor Thom Keller. They're found in Philippians chapter 4. Last time we learned about a couple of extremes to pray about. Here with more and then to conclude this very practical book is Pastor Thom.

Pastor Thom Keller: If we are not tempted by abundance to plunge ourselves into desire, nor tempted by sorrow to think ourselves hopelessly harmed by it, both then can knit us more closely to our true and changeless God. This is what keeps us in balance when we can live in either of those extremes.

I have a question for you. Do you think it was easier for Paul to live faithfully in his times of super-abundance and excess or in his times of abject poverty? Don't be too quick to answer for Paul. I don't know the answer here, but this is what I suspect.

Remember, God had to protect Paul from his pride. 2 Corinthians 12:7: "Even though I've received such wonderful revelations from God," a dream that he had, a vision that he had, "so to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and to keep me from becoming proud."

And this is how I believe we can surmise that Paul struggled more with abundance than with want. Because Paul tells us that he struggled with pride, and the Bible tells us God will give us grace sufficient to every trial.

2 Corinthians 9:8: "God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." And yet even though this is true, we know that when Paul had a super-abundant experience, this is when he needed a booster shot.

He needed an infirmity to help protect him against his pride. And the Bible tells us that it's in our plenty that we are the closest to danger. Deuteronomy 8:10 makes this so clear. God speaking to Moses before they go into the Promised Land, He's telling them what they can experience.

Moses says to the people, "When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. But that is the time to be careful. Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey His commands, regulations, and decrees that I'm giving you today."

"For when you have become full and prosperous," listen, "for when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful."

"Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt." That is when we need to be on guard. And again, we're warned of the same thing in Proverbs chapter 30. I encourage you to memorize this verse.

He says, "First help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches. Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, 'Who is the Lord?' And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name."

I pray this daily, this prayer, that idea. Not every day that I do, but in my mind, there is a dollar amount that would ruin me. I think there's a dollar amount that would ruin everybody. Maybe there are a few that could avoid that, but I think there's a dollar amount.

And I say this, "Lord, if You have to put me on either side of balance of what I can handle, put me more on the poverty side than the wealth side, because I think I can be trusted more to live in a little bit on the poverty side than too much on the wealth side."

And I've said this before. You know what wealthy people do? They buy yachts. You know what they do with yachts? They hang around with other people that have yachts. You know what people with yachts do on Sundays? They don't go to church.

No, they're beautiful people and they do what beautiful people do. No, give me just enough to satisfy my needs. Give me neither poverty nor riches, because in poverty I may steal and disgrace Your name, or in riches, I may become content without God. Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.

And then with all that said about living in poverty and plenty, Paul adds this in verse 14: "Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty." You have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. That goes back to Philippians chapter 2, verse 25.

It says, "Meanwhile, I thought that I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier, and he was your messenger to help me in my need." So this, Paul tells us, was the Philippians' most recent gift.

But prior to Epaphroditus bringing Paul aid, it had been 12 years since the Philippians had last helped Paul. 12 years. Going on to verse 15 and 16, it says, "You know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the good news and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent help more than once."

And again, the last time they gave Paul a monetary gift was when Paul left Macedonia. This was in Acts chapter 17 when Paul fled Berea for Athens, and this was about 12 years before he wrote this book to the Philippians. 12 years.

And then Paul adds, to make sure they don't get the wrong idea about him mentioning the 12-year lapse, he says this in verse 17. "I don't say this because I want a gift from you. Rather," listen, "rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness."

Paul says, "Please, please, please don't misunderstand me. I'm not telling you this because I want a gift from you again. No, my joy about your gift to me does not come from what you did for me, but rather my joy is in what your gift to me will bring to you, the blessings from God."

Paul says, "Your gifts to me are actually a sweet-smelling sacrificial gift to God that is very pleasing to God." And so he says, "So, you Philippians, I'm not reveling in the gift you sent me. I'm reveling, what excites me is about your gift and what that means before the throne room of God."

Look in verse 18, Paul says it. "At the moment, I have all I need and more. I'm generously supplied with the gifts you sent me through Epaphroditus." Listen, "They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice." The gifts that they gave to Paul are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

Paul indicates that out of this gift, God would provide for all of their needs. Verse 19: "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Again, a famous verse.

Barclay says this, "He who gives makes himself richer, for his gifts to others open to him the gifts of God." Proverbs 11:25 makes this point: "The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."

Proverbs 11:24: "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty." 2 Corinthians 9:6, again Paul speaking: "Remember this: whoever sows sparingly," meaning when you plant crops, "whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."

The more you give, the more God will give you back so that you can give more. And verse 19 is another of the many famous verses in the book of Philippians, New King James 4:19: "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

It's important that we keep this concluding verse in the context of Paul's earlier teaching on this. That being because you have cared for me, Paul says, "Because you have cared for me in my need, God will return your gift by caring for your needs."

Listen again. Paul is saying, "Because you have cared for me in my need, God will return your gift by caring for your needs." Barnes, a commentator, says this, "'But my God shall supply all your need.' That is, you have shown your regard for me as a friend of God by helping me in my distress. And I have confidence that in return for all this, God will supply all your need when you are in circumstances of necessity."

Paul's confidence in this seems not to have been founded on any express revelation, but on the general principle that God would regard their offering with favor. Nothing is ever lost by doing good. In thousands of instances, it is abundantly repaid.

The benevolent are not usually poor, and if they are, God raises up for them benefactors and sends supplies in a manner as unexpected as when supplies were sent by the ravens to the prophet Elijah. There are many promises in the Bible given by God to those who help the poor.

And to me, one of the strongest is Psalm 41, verse 1 to 3. It says, "Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor. The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble." And I've shared this before, but don't lose who these promises are to. It's not to the poor; it's to those that help the poor.

"Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor." So what does God do for those that are kind to the poor? "He rescues them when they are in trouble. The Lord protects them; He keeps them alive; He gives them prosperity in the land." Why? So they can give more.

"He rescues them from their enemies. The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health. Oh, the joys of those who give to the poor." And always remember this, folks, every advantage, every talent that you have been given by God is always so you can share that talent or that advantage with others. Always.

It's never primarily for you. Not primarily. And the more faithful you are in doing so, the more you will be given so that you can keep sharing with others. 2 Corinthians 9:7: "You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure, for God loves a person who gives cheerfully."

And if you give generously, cheerfully, as it says in verse 7, look at what it says in verse 8, the next verse: "And God will generously provide all you need. If you're generous, if you give hilariously, God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others."

As the Scriptures say, "They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered." For 10 years? 30 years? Forever. Hey, forever is heaven. Forever.

"For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, He will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so you can always be generous."

There it is. Every advantage, every resource, so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. And you know God is looking for individuals who will be faithful to keep their eyes and hearts fixed on the giving side of that formula rather than the receiving end.

I remember the story about a man who was told that you can never outgive God. He believed it, and so he gave 50 percent of all he had to the church. He lost his shirt. Does that surprise you? No, it's because of why he did it. He did it to get. You don't play that game with God.

As He gives, your faithful, and He will keep giving more. If you're faithful, that's what He does. And if you can't be trusted with those resources, maybe that won't come. You've read the stories about people that hit the lottery, right? How many people does that ruin? God knows all that up front. He knows if there's a dollar amount that could ruin you, and He won't let you get there. I think He'll try to protect you from that.

And Paul says here that your needs, not your wants, your needs will be met, "according to the riches of His Jesus Christ glory." Verse 19 in the ESV: "And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

And Greek here, the word "riches" is *ploutos*. It means riches, wealth, abundance of external possessions, fullness, abundance. This is talking about material needs. So don't miss a point here. God doesn't promise you riches, wealth, and abundance of possessions. No.

God is saying is that He will provide for your needs out of His limitless, bottomless trove of riches and wealth that He can draw from anytime He likes to provide for your needs. And if you have a generous heart, the needs of others through your generosity, if He can trust you to give away rather than hoard away.

People will ask after we talk like this, "So am I allowed to store some money? Can I have a retirement fund save for the future?" Proverbs 15:6 says this: "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked." Proverbs 13:22: "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous."

I've said this before, but I've known people that were very wealthy, extremely wealthy. I've met the Day family, Days Inn; they are givers. They give so much away. Just be careful in that.

And I've often asked this question: who do you think hands out more money to people, God or Satan? It's a rhetorical question, but the Bible does offer us a test to determine who's funding us, if it's God or Satan. I'd add one to it. First is: are you generous with it? But the second one is Proverbs 10:22: "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it."

I think that's a test. If you have wealth and there's sorrow that comes with it, sorrow in your family, sorrow with your children, sorrow, sorrow, sorrow. If it's from the Lord, truly from the Lord, He adds no sorrow, no negatives, no grief.

And then Paul closes out his letter in verse 20 to 23. "Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever, amen. Give my greetings to each of God's holy people, all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings, and all the rest of God's people send you greetings too, especially those in Caesar's palace, many say. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you in spirit."

"My greetings," he says, "to all the Christians there in Philippi." From the brothers who are here with me, who was that? Many think at this point it was only Timothy. He was the only one with him.

And he says about Caesar's palace, about those who have the Christians who work for the Emperor Nero in his palace. Some believe it refers to relatives of Nero who had become Christians, but at the very least, it probably pertains to officers, stewards, and servants, and probably some of those soldiers that Paul witnessed to and led to the Lord while he was in chains tied to them.

And then Paul ends with the standard concluding blessing, Philippians 4:23. He says, "May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, amen. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, amen."

Try to lock this one away in your brain. Every single book Paul wrote, all 13 letters, all 13, begin and end with this greeting or a close variation. 1 Corinthians 1:3 is an example: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Grace, remember, is the desire and the ability to do the will of God. And this is a huge understanding. We underuse the word grace. Grace is such a powerful word: the desire and the ability to do the will of God. All of his letters, he says, "I hope, I pray that you would have the desire and the ability to do the will of God." He ends a letter: "I pray that you would have the desire and the ability to do the will of God by God's grace."

So as we conclude this letter in Philippians, I thought it would be kind of cool to highlight some of the beautiful gems that we've uncovered through this book. Philippians 1, verse 6: "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

Chapter 1, verse 21: "For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better. I'm torn between two desires. I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me."

Philippians 2, verse 5: "You must have the same attitude that Christ had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being."

"When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore God elevated Him to the highest place of honor and gave Him the name above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." What a verse.

Philippians 3:8: "Do everything without complaining and arguing." Oh boy, there's one. Philippians 3:13: "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead."

And then Philippians 4:4 to 7: "Always be full of the joy the Lord. I say it again, rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything you can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

And then verse 8, the following verse to that: "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one more thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right and pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Verse 11: "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have." And then verse 19: "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your need from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Wow, what a set of verses to dine on in this time.

Guest (Male): Great verses indeed. Enjoy the feast. You've been listening to Pastor Thom Keller on Study the Word, and today we completed our study of Philippians. We hope you got a lot out of it.

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