Abounding In Fruit

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Philippians 4:17
Psalters: 264, 156, 253, 305
  1. That which abounds.
    1. Our text speaks of the fruit which believers can bear when they give and receive.
      1. Paul is focused on the spiritual fruit (he is rejoicing in the Lord, 3:1; 4:4) of which the material gift is a sign.
      2. So we should give and receive in such a way that it is the fruit of God’s grace.
    2. Our text suggests possible wrong attitudes.
      1. Some refuse to give (the miser) unmoved to help the needy; and some refuse to receive out of false shame and pride.
      2. Others seek, not the fruit, but the gift, the material, the here and now.
      3. Wrong attitudes about giving and receiving are also found in the church on earth.
    3. Right giving and receiving arises only from the knowledge of our union with Christ.
      1. He is in us and lives in us and works His grace in us so we are abundantly grateful.
      2. He redeemed and delivered us, and implants us into Christ, so it not us but Christ who bears fruit in us!
    4. Giving and receiving are delicate spiritual acts, not easy to do so please the Lord.
      1. Paul’s joy is that their gift manifests the spiritual fruit of Christ in them.
      2. This is the fruit which believers bear in the Lord, i.e., Jesus bears fruit in their giving and receiving.
  2. This spiritual giving and receiving “abounds,” i.e., multiplies, bears interest.
    1. Not that when you give something, you receive back double in good feelings or in material things.
    2. Right giving and receiving abounds as fruit. All spiritual fruit abounds.
      1. It abounds because it is a spiritual exercise in the practice of spiritual virtues.
      2. The more the Christian exercises the spiritual virtues, the more it will grow in the fruit of the grace of Christ.
    3. “To your account” refers to the account which God keeps in heaven.
  3. How is it possible that our giving and receiving as spiritual activities abounds in glory?
    1. Any and all right giving and receiving is only because of God’s gift of grace to His people.
    2. Further, the fruit of giving and receiving is a blessing of God on us.
    3. Paul has the “desire” for this fruit (not the gift but the fruit), He rejoices to see the fruit of Christ’s work in them.