On Being Amply Supplied

November 21, 2004

Combined worship service with People’s Community Church at the First United Congregational Church of Christ (Post Office Church)

 

 

Thanks for Their Gifts

10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. 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. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

About six months ago you were visiting with us. I remember your visit with much joy. My joy came from the fact that you valued Christian fellowship with our church family enough that you joined with us in a combined worship service. Also, my joy came from the fact that our church gladly served as host.  And of course my joy came from being a part of the wonderful worship of our churches that Sunday.

 

And speaking about worship have you noticed that Rev. Hardy and I preach briefer sermons at these combined worship services? You may call these abbreviated sermons snack-type sermons, but you are getting a full-course sermon. You are not losing anything in these two sermons that equal one full-course sermon. Amen!

 

This morning I want to talk about a church that is a wonderful example for our congregations. It’s the church at Philippi. This church was founded by Paul on his second missionary journey. On his third missionary journey he again visited it. In the passage I chose for this morning text, he is thanking this church for a gift. He describes this gift. “I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” In fact, throughout this passage, he exudes a spirit of thankfulness to this church for its generosity. In verse 10 he says, “10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.” And in verse 14 he says, “14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.” Also, in verses 15&16 he says, “15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.”

 

It’s clear that Paul is filled with gratitude for what this church did for him in a time of need. The message we can learn from this church is that our churches have the potential to cause hearts to be filled with Thanksgiving too. That potential is within the reach of our congregations this Thanksgiving and every Thanksgiving.

 

As congregations we have the potential to go far beyond causing hearts to express thankfulness and gratitude just on Thanksgiving. We have the potential to transform “Thankful Thursday” in the Cleveland Plain Dealer to “Daily Thanks.” After all, the needy must live between annual Thanksgivings.

 

 Like Paul there are many in our communities that are in dire need everyday. Just this week in an editorial article the Berea Sun News sounded an alarm about the needy in our communities. Let me share a quote from that editorial:

 

It titled “Surviving Hunger”

 

“This week, the week before Thanksgiving, we are highlighting hunger on our front pages.

 

While most of us are stocking up on pumpkin pies (and I might add sweet potato pies) and turkeys, some of our neighbors are wondering where to get a slice of bread. It’s a growing problem in the suburbs but there is a lot we can do to help – not only during the holidays, but year-round.”

 

“Community hunger pantries rely on donations to stock the shelves. Right now, their basic supplies are dangerously low at a time when demand is up.”

 

Now, there are very good reasons for our churches to work hard to fill the hearts of the needy with thankfulness.  I recently read that:

 

Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked, "Why is that there?" Alex Haley answered, "Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words & think that they are wonderful, & begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on top of the fence post & remember that he didn't get there on his own. He had help."
That is the basis of thankfulness - to remember that we got here with the help of God, & that He is the provider of every blessing we have.

SOURCE: Melvin Newland, Minister, Central Christian Church, Brownsville, TX.   
  Contributed by: SermonCentralPRO 

 

So like the church at Philippi we too can fill hearts with gratitude and thankfulness like the type of gratitude Paul exudes in this text. Let us work together as congregations so that the needy here and even in Cleveland will gladly express their gratitude as Paul does here. Amen!