Abounding In Fruit
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
7/14/2013 PM
|
Text:
|
Philippians 4:17
|
Psalters: |
264, 156, 253, 305 |
- That which abounds.
- Our text speaks of the fruit which believers can bear when they give and receive.
- 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.
- So we should give and receive in such a way that it is the fruit of God’s grace.
- Our text suggests possible wrong attitudes.
- Some refuse to give (the miser) unmoved to help the needy; and some refuse to receive out of false shame and pride.
- Others seek, not the fruit, but the gift, the material, the here and now.
- Wrong attitudes about giving and receiving are also found in the church on earth.
- Right giving and receiving arises only from the knowledge of our union with Christ.
- He is in us and lives in us and works His grace in us so we are abundantly grateful.
- He redeemed and delivered us, and implants us into Christ, so it not us but Christ who bears fruit in us!
- Giving and receiving are delicate spiritual acts, not easy to do so please the Lord.
- Paul’s joy is that their gift manifests the spiritual fruit of Christ in them.
- This is the fruit which believers bear in the Lord, i.e., Jesus bears fruit in their giving and receiving.
- This spiritual giving and receiving “abounds,” i.e., multiplies, bears interest.
- Not that when you give something, you receive back double in good feelings or in material things.
- Right giving and receiving abounds as fruit. All spiritual fruit abounds.
- It abounds because it is a spiritual exercise in the practice of spiritual virtues.
- The more the Christian exercises the spiritual virtues, the more it will grow in the fruit of the grace of Christ.
- “To your account” refers to the account which God keeps in heaven.
- How is it possible that our giving and receiving as spiritual activities abounds in glory?
- Any and all right giving and receiving is only because of God’s gift of grace to His people.
- Further, the fruit of giving and receiving is a blessing of God on us.
- 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.