God's Abundant Provision

to begin our worship by singing to God's praise. We're going to sing in Psalm 100 in the Scottish

Psalter, the first version of the psalm, page 362, in the tune is Finart. We'll sing the whole of

the psalm. All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice, and say with

mirth his praise forth tell, come ye before him and rejoice. We'll sing the whole of this psalm

to God's praise.

Amen.

Amen.

This Lord can bless His name always, for it is seemly so to do.

For while the Lord our God is good, His mercy is forever sure,

His truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.

Our united hearts in prayer, let us pray.

Amen.

And we thank You today, Lord, that we have Your Word before us, for it speaks to us.

It communicates to us Your wonderful grace and how good You have been to us.

And may we seek to learn more and more from it.

We are surrounded by different kinds of teaching.

We are surrounded in a world that communicates in so many different ways to us.

Adverts and television and media of all sorts, they come to us each and every day,

speaking to us different messages.

But we thank You that You are the God of the greatest message of all, the message of the

gospel, the good news of Jesus.

And so help us to hear it and help us to share it with others as well.

That as we are invited by You to come, that we would invite others to come, to come and hear of the wonder of Jesus,

the one who came to save His people.

And so may You bless us together today in our service times.

May You bless the Sunday school, the Crescent, the Tweenies as well.

Lord, look over them and bless them.

Be with all the teachers in the Sunday school.

Bless them and be with them as they prepare for lessons.

Be with the children as they hear.

Lord, give them to hear Your Word and to understand it and to live by it.

We thank You too for our schools during the week, for all the teachers and staff and the children who attend schools day by day.

May Your blessing and peace be upon each place of learning.

And may they know Your goodness to them as well.

So Lord, look down upon us, continue to bless us and to keep us and to guide us in all things as we ask it all with the forgiveness of our sins.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Well, I wonder who here, young or old alike, if you're excited when you see the postie coming.

Maybe there's some days that you're looking out the window, wondering what time the postie will arrive.

Other days you may be not bothered, you may be not expecting anything.

Now, there's certain days of the year you might be looking out for a postie coming for a particular reason.

It may be it's your birthday or it may be it's another special occasion like Christmas time.

And you're wondering, will the postie bring you something?

And so you're waiting and getting excited.

And hopefully when the postie arrives, you may get something in the post that cheers you up, that makes you thankful.

Other times you might be thinking, oh, no, there was nothing today and you have to wait for another time when the postie comes.

And the postie's got an important job.

They're given bundles and bundles of letters and parcels and they can't decide one day, oh, it's too wet.

I'm not going out in that rain.

I'm going to wait for a sunny day so I can go out when the weather's better.

They have to go out whatever the weather and deliver the mail, whatever that mail is.

They have a very important job to do.

Now, on the notice sheet, as I was highlighting before, we were talking about having a family service two weeks today for Easter.

It'll be Easter Sunday and we want to have a family service.

But we also want to think about inviting people along.

Now, you think how excited you are when you're waiting for the postie to come, maybe for a birthday.

And you think the postie's going to have something.

But what about when you get a surprise?

When something arrives in the post and you weren't expecting it, a letter from some friend somewhere or a partial, a gift from someone that you weren't expecting,

how that cheers you up, how it makes you feel so pleased that someone's remembered you.

Well, just think about that in the way that we can give invitations to people to church.

Some people might be just waiting for an invitation and nobody's bringing it.

And they'll be disappointed.

Others maybe aren't expecting an invitation.

So when you give it to them, it might cheer them up that you've remembered them, that you've thought of them.

And so it's important for us to think, too, that we, all of us together, have an important part to play, to invite people along to church.

It might be something they're waiting for, or it might be something that cheers them up and makes them glad that you've remembered them.

It might be just what they need to come along and to hear and gather with us together as we come to hear the good news of Jesus.

And just like the posties, they don't make excuses that the weather's too wet or too cold to go out with their post.

Well, let's not make our own excuses not to deliver the invitation.

We can make lots of different excuses not to invite or to give an invitation to someone.

But let's just think, well, we're inviting them to hear about Jesus.

And that's what counts.

And even if there's people listening online today as well, I invite you to come along and to gather with us and to be together to hear about Jesus.

So let's think about inviting, because God invites us to himself to come to him.

And then he tells us to invite others to come and see this Jesus and all his glory and all his love towards us.

So may God help us as we think about that and think over these coming days who we can invite and to go and invite people to come along to worship with us.

Well, we're going to say the Lord's Prayer together now.

Amen.

Well, let's sing to God's praise once again.

We're singing in Psalm 45a, in the Sing Psalms version, page 56 of the psalm books.

Psalm 45a, we'll sing from verse 1 to 6.

And the tune is Herder's Field.

A noble theme inspires my heart with verses for the king.

My tongue's a skillful writer's pen.

Composing lines to sing.

We'll sing from verse 1 to 6.

To God's praise.

Amen.

Amen.

A noble theme inspires my heart with verses for the king.

My tongue's a skillful writer's pen.

Composing lines to sing.

You far excel the best of men.

Your lips are full of grace.

For God's light.

For God has blessed you evermore.

This light shines on your face.

O mighty one, take up your sword, and find it on your thigh.

With God's splendor.

With God's splendor.

Clothe yourself and with your majesty.

Bright court and state victoriously.

For meekness, truth and pride.

Let your light hand display your deeds of awesome power and height.

Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of those who hate the king.

And all the nations of the earth into subjection bring.

Your royal throne, O God, will last throughout eternity.

Your kingdom's center will be one of truth and equity.

Well, we'll turn to read together in God's word.

We're going to read in Paul's letter to the Philippians.

Our main reading is going to be in chapter 4 from verse 10 down to the end.

I just want to read the opening verses in chapter 1 as well.

Just the first two verses there in Philippians chapter 1.

Philippians 1 · chapter mention

You find this around page 1178.

So in the beginning of the letter, Paul says this,

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi with the overseers and deacons,

grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

That's his opening to this letter.

And then we're going to read in chapter 4 from verse 10 downwards.

And our focus today is really going to be on the close,

the closing part of this letter.

So we're going to read from verse 10.

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me.

You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.

Not that I am speaking of being in need,

for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound.

In any and every circumstance,

I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

And you, Philippians, yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel,

when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me,

giving and receiving, except you only.

Even in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs once and again.

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

I have received full payment and more.

I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent,

a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.

The brothers who are with me greet you.

All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Amen.

And may God bless that reading from his word.

So again, just unite our hearts together in prayer.

Let us pray.

Our Father in heaven, as we continue in our worship,

we thank you for all the riches that are ours in Christ Jesus,

that we have a God who is able to abundantly supply all of our needs,

and that there are many things that we take for granted on a daily basis.

Help us and remind us that all that is ours is through your generosity to us.

For all is yours, and you are the one who supplies.

And we pray, Lord, that as we are blessed with so much,

that we would not forget you.

It is so easily done when we think of ourselves more and more,

when we give praise to ourselves or to those around us,

instead of looking up and looking to you.

And Lord, we pray that not just for ourselves today,

but for our people all around us,

for our nation and the world in which we live,

that we would recognize that every good

and every perfect gift is from above,

from the one who does not change,

the one who is the same yesterday, today, and forever,

that we would realize that you alone are God,

that you alone are worthy of worship and praise.

And how quickly our lives can change in that sense,

when we can go, even as Paul describes,

from plenty to need,

from having everything to having nothing, as it were,

how quickly and how easily our lives can change in that way.

And yet, even in Paul's own situation,

he was able to find what it was to be content,

to have that true joy of salvation in his heart.

And that was through knowing Christ Jesus.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

And we thank you, Lord,

that you are the one who gives strength for all our needs.

That day by day, Lord,

that we would recognize the strength that you have given in the past,

the strength that you have given for this day,

and the strength that you will give us as we go on in this world.

For your grace is always sufficient,

and you supply, O Lord, as we need.

And so help us that we will depend upon you

and lean upon you in all of these things.

And we know that as we pray,

we can pray for others too,

that many more would come and know the wonder of your grace

and the wonder of your help

in the midst of many different and difficult situations

that people find themselves in.

We know the struggles of this life are so real

and so many at times,

that there is grief,

that there is sorrow and sadness,

that there is ill health,

that there is worry and anxiety,

that there are so many things

that are never far from our doorstep.

We can feel overwhelmed at times.

We can feel as if we're in the darkness of despair.

And yet, Lord, we thank you

that you are able to provide

even in the midst of all of that.

You are able to provide comfort.

You are able to provide help

and strength and light

and all that belongs to you.

And so we pray that, Lord,

together we would know

your help in every circumstance

and that people all around us

would come to know that help for themselves.

And we do remember, Lord,

all the different needs.

We pray for those who are grieving

in their hearts today.

We thank you, Lord,

that you are a God of all comfort.

We pray for those who are going through

times of ill health,

going through times of treatment for ill health,

going through anxious waiting

on results or appointments to take place.

Lord, may you give grace as they need.

We pray, Lord, for those around our communities

who are struggling financially,

those who are anxious about work,

those who are anxious about family.

Lord, again, we pray for you to come,

to come in your power,

to come in your grace

and to give us, O Lord,

a burden for them as well.

We pray to you and thank you, Lord,

that life has its joys as well.

We thank you that there are many reasons

for giving thanks to you.

We give thanks, Lord,

that you provide new life

for babies who are born

into our communities.

Lord, we thank you for that,

for those who are going through

times of pregnancy.

Lord, we pray your help

and protection over them.

For those who are going through

times of preparing for marriage,

for those who are coming to membership

in our congregation

or other congregations,

we thank you for these times of joy

where we see and know your spirit working.

We thank you, Lord,

that you are a God of many promises

and that you, O Lord,

are able to bless beyond

what we even ask or imagine.

So, Lord, hear our prayers

of petition and thanksgiving

as we offer them up to you.

We pray for the work of the gospel

in our own midst

and far and wide.

We think of things going on

throughout this coming week

and in the weeks ahead as well.

We pray for the Friday at the Free

and thank you for all

who have helped there

and for the encouragement received

through seeing many people

coming through our doors.

We pray your spirit to work

in the midst of that.

We thank you for the work

of the Free Church camps.

For those of our own number

who are going away as campers

and leaders,

we pray for them, Lord,

that you will bless these times to them.

We thank you for the carry night

being organized

and pray, Lord,

for a good response,

for a blessed evening

and for encouragements there.

O Lord, may your hand

be upon it for good.

Remember those who are organizing

the camps.

We pray for Maddie Beaton

and pray for others who help,

for all the leaders

who are preparing.

Lord, may your hand be upon them

for good as well.

We thank you for the teaching

of your word as well

and we pray for Precepts Scotland

as they come and visit

for a weekend in April.

We pray for events to be held

for young people and adults

to help us to learn together

from your word,

how to read it,

how to understand it,

how to share it.

We thank you for every opportunity

we have for all of these things.

And Lord, we above all just pray

for your spirit to work,

for to know your power upon us,

Lord.

We cannot do it ourselves,

not by might,

not by power,

but by my spirit,

says the Lord.

And we thank you

that you have promised

the Holy Spirit.

And we pray in his name too

and the name of our Lord

and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

for you to come in your power,

to come and revive us,

to come and do us good.

Continue with us in our worship

at this time and into the evening.

Watch over us this day, Lord.

Give us from your word

to be refreshed and encouraged.

Give us rest for our bodies

and our souls.

And renew us, Lord,

as we go on into the week ahead.

Go before us, Lord,

in all things.

Hear our prayers then

and watch over us now,

forgiving us for all our sin,

as we ask it all in Jesus' name.

Amen.

We're going to sing together

to God's praise this time

in Psalm 145.

And let's sing Psalms.

Psalm 145,

page 190 of the Psalm books.

We'll sing from verse 8

down to verse 18.

The tune is eventide.

The Lord is gracious

and compassionate.

He's slow to anger,

rich in steadfast love.

The Lord is good

to all that he has made

and merciful to all on earth

that move.

We'll sing from verse 8

down to verse 18

to God's praise.

The Lord is gracious

and compassionate.

低 in�면ian glory,

honor the Lord is good

the God's blessing

and good

himself.

The heart of their

salvation is good

and sorry about

God,

the Lord is good

and merciful to all

of

earth.

to all of it.

Amen.

All you have made

will give you praise,

O Lord.

Your saints will all

die to bless your name.

The glory of your reign

they will declare,

and your surpassing might

they will proclaim.

Thus all will hear

how hard your mighty act

unto the glorious

splendor of your reign.

Your kingdom will enter

for evermore.

Our all-time year to me

and will remain.

The Lord is faithful

to his promises,

to all that he has made

his love is shown.

The Lord himself

upholds all those who fall,

and lifts up everyone

who is out of town.

All eyes are blessed

except for me to you,

and in your season

you supply their food.

You open my dear

and to all that live,

and satisfy their needs

with all his food.

The Lord is just

and good in all his ways.

He shows his love

to all that he has paid.

The Lord is near

to all who fall on him,

to all who fall in truth

to him,

for he.

Let's turn back to our reading

in Paul's letter

to the Philippians chapter 4.

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

And we're reading at the end

of the chapter there

at verse 19,

down to the end.

My God will supply

every need of yours

according to his riches

and glory in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father

be glory

forever and ever.

Amen.

Greet every saint

in Christ Jesus.

The brothers who are with me

greet you.

All the saints greet you,

especially those

of Caesar's household.

The grace

of the Lord Jesus Christ

be with your spirit.

As we look to this letter,

it is a letter of joy

that Paul wrote

to the church at Philippi.

He was rejoicing in them

and with them

for all their goodness

towards him

and towards their faith

in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As you read through the letter,

you find there is so much

of that sense of rejoicing.

And we should open it up

as a letter to ourselves

to be excited about what God

has to say to us.

I remember when I was in school

being taught how you were to write

a letter.

It was one of these exercises

that you wanted to learn

just how you would go about

writing a letter

and the different kinds

of letters

that you might write.

We were told

the kind of things

that were important

to put on the letter.

The date,

who it was from,

how you started it,

how the main body

of the letter

was to be written

and what was to be included in it.

But we were also told

about how you write

at the end of the letter

and what it means

and how you write

at the end of the letter.

If you were writing

a general letter

starting,

Dear Sir, Madam,

it would end

yours faithfully.

Or if you were writing

and you knew the person's name,

you would put Dear,

whoever,

and you would say at the end

yours sincerely.

Now it doesn't sound

much of a difference,

yours faithfully

or yours sincerely,

but what was being emphasized

was how it would be received.

And the difference

it would make

to the person

who was receiving it.

If you get them mixed up,

it would cause

a little bit of confusion.

But when you look at

God's Word,

and when we look at

especially maybe Paul's letters

in the New Testament,

there's a danger for us

where we don't pay attention

to the small details.

The little details

that would make a difference

in the letter

we write to someone

is the same as true

in how Paul writes,

but how we see it

as God writing

through him,

and how the little details

are important as well.

As you're reading through

the letter to the Philippines,

there's so much to take in

and to learn

that you can think that

that's what is so important.

But the beginning and the end

highlight for us

the bookends of the letter.

That's why we read

in the opening verses as well.

As Paul writes,

he says there in verse 2

of chapter 1,

grace to you and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is who is writing

to the people.

It's the grace of God

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

And as you come to the conclusion

of the letter,

he's not writing

yours faithfully, Paul,

or yours sincerely, Paul.

He doesn't even mention

his own name.

He says there in the very last verse,

the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

be with your spirit.

And that's important for us

to remember as well.

There are many ways

that we can communicate today.

In many ways,

the art of letter writing

is a dying art.

We have so many other ways

to communicate.

Text messages,

emails,

cards,

and sometimes letters.

It can be short,

it can be long,

but it's what's behind it

that counts.

It's what's behind it

that makes all the difference.

That you are writing,

you're getting in touch

getting in touch with someone,

to let them know

that you're thinking of them.

In whatever situation

it might be.

It might be just saying hello.

It might be just saying congratulations.

It might be saying,

I'm sorry to hear your news.

Whatever it is,

it's just that you are remembering them.

And what we have before us here,

it's not just a letter from Paul to the church.

It is God's word to his church,

to Philippi,

as it is to Stornway,

to ourselves today.

Because God wrote his book

to communicate with his people.

The word of God together

is God's way of communicating to us.

And it's reminding us of his concern

and his compassion

and his love towards us

as he writes to us.

Sometimes it's just in the ordinary

day-to-day situations.

Other times,

it's in the times of joy

that we hear God's word speaking to us.

Other times,

it's in the times of deep sorrow or anxiety

that we hear God's word speaking to us.

And we are to take our time

to read it as God's word to us

for every and any circumstance.

And to see his great love towards us.

That he has remembered us as a people.

And like many letters

can be sealed with a sense of love behind them.

God's word to us is sealed

with the greatest sense of love.

It is sealed by his grace.

Grace through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Through the one who gave himself for us.

And that's what we see at the conclusion

of this letter.

And that's what we're going to focus on

just for a few moments together this morning.

As we see the close of this letter of joy

that Paul wrote to the Philippians.

In his signing off here,

there's three things that remind us

of God's abundant provision

towards his people.

Three things that we see here.

We see glory

and where that glory is to be given.

We see greetings

and how these greetings

are to be received and given.

But we also see grace.

Grace.

Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So beginning at verse 19,

I want to see these three things.

The glory to God.

The greetings to one another.

And the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So first we see the glory of God.

In verse 19 there it says,

And my God will supply every need of yours

according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

Twice the word glory is used there.

And the context is important for us here.

When we start reading at verse 10,

we see the context into which Paul is writing to the church at Philippi.

They have been very generous towards Paul in his ministry.

He rejoices greatly, he says in verse 10,

that you have revived your concern for me.

That they have been able to give to him once again.

Something that they've been doing on a regular basis,

as you see, as you read through these verses.

In verse 14, in the middle of that verse,

When I left Macedonia,

no church entered into partnership with me

in giving and receiving except only you.

Even in Thessalonica, a rich place.

You sent me help for my needs once and again.

And Philippi wasn't as rich as other places.

But they were giving out of their generosity.

They were giving out of their thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving for Paul's ministry.

But above all, thanksgiving to God.

They were generous because God had been good to them.

They were giving glory to God.

It's easy to take glory to ourselves.

It's easy to praise ourselves.

But who is worthy of all our praise?

God alone.

And that's what Paul is making clear at the end of this letter.

My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

He's encouraging them to continue to be generous in light of God's goodness to them.

And so are we generous to God in this way?

Are we a people who are generous to God in all that we are doing?

Are we generous in giving him praise and glory in all that we do?

Are we generous in giving our lives to him?

NeverWhy aren't they going to Iismany psalm

So she gave her daughter a pound coin and a five pound note.

And she said to her, put whichever one you want into the collection plate and keep the other one for yourself.

A little test.

Put one into the collection plate and keep the other to yourself.

And so they sat through the sermon.

And part of the sermon in the church they were in was that a giving's plate would be passed round at a certain point in the service.

And after the service, as we were leaving the church, the mother asked the daughter, well, what did you give?

And the daughter started replying by saying, well, I was going to give the five pound note.

But then the man in the pulpit said that we are to be cheerful givers.

And so I thought to myself then for a moment, I'll be much more cheerful if I give the pound.

So I put the pound in.

Now that's not what God means by being cheerful givers.

It's not about making ourselves happy.

It's about being cheerful and recognizing all that God has done for us.

And being generous in what we give to him.

So what are you willing to give to God?

And what do you see that God has given to you?

When you look at verse 19 there,

My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Every need is met in Christ Jesus.

He has supplied our every need.

If your birthday is approaching or when Christmas is coming, like we were saying to the young ones earlier, there's a sense of anticipation.

I wonder what I'll get.

There's an excitement in that thought, but also sometimes an element of doubt.

I wonder will I get what I want?

I wonder will I get what I've asked for?

I wonder sometimes if I'll get anything at all.

But when you look at Philippi and the people of God there and Paul himself,

they weren't looking at God in this way.

They weren't saying, I wonder will God supply.

Because look at what Paul says,

My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

He will.

It's not might.

God might give.

Or God could give that in some ways dependent on you.

But no, it's my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches.

Do you doubt God in his supply?

Do you doubt God that he is able to meet everything that you need in Christ Jesus?

Paul doesn't.

And that's what he's encouraging the church at Philippi and ourselves to remember,

that God will supply our every need in Christ Jesus.

People in management, people in politics,

they sometimes go through that period when things aren't going well.

And they receive what's often called the dreaded vote of confidence.

It comes, if you think of a football manager,

going through a period of poor results.

It comes in the midst of this run of poor results.

And they'll come out with a statement.

The board has given him the vote of confidence.

And then a few days later, they're sacked.

They don't have confidence that the manager is able to turn things around.

And it's mere words, a token gesture of a vote of confidence.

And it's called the dreaded vote of confidence

because it usually means that a change is coming.

But Paul here is reminding us that God is a God who is able to turn things around.

That when things aren't going right, when things aren't going well,

that he is able to turn things around.

That he can and will supply our every need.

And that that is why we are to give glory to God.

Because he is able.

He is able and he has done so much for us

through the riches that we have in Christ Jesus.

You think of when God came down to this world in his son, Christ Jesus.

The birth of Jesus.

When the angels met the shepherds out in the field,

they were singing,

Glory to God in the highest.

Glory to God in the highest.

And that's the song that we can still sing.

Glory to God in the highest.

To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

Full stop.

Give glory to God.

For he is worthy.

Well then we see the second thing here is the greetings to one another.

And it says here as he's concluding his letter,

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.

The brothers who are with me greet you.

And all the saints greet you,

especially those of Caesar's household.

How we greet and are greeted.

As you come to the conclusion of this letter,

it's Paul reminding them to be united,

to be together in the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.

They've been reminded of the joy that there is in the Lord.

The rejoicing that there is in the Lord.

The rejoicing that there is

and sharing in the work of the gospel together.

Now he's reminding them that this joy can be shown

in how you greet one another.

And greet here is literally a word used in other places.

It's for salute.

Salute one another.

Don't go past one another without acknowledging

and saluting, greeting one another.

And the letter opened with this sense of greeting as well.

As he's writing to them in the opening verses,

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi,

with the overseers and deacons,

grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It's greetings in his name.

Greetings through the riches that are ours in Christ.

And that's what he's reminding them to go on

in that sense of togetherness here as well.

Greet one another.

Encourage one another.

Remember one another.

Look out for one another.

And you think of the people he mentions here as well.

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.

The brothers who are with me greet you.

And you think, that's great, that's fine.

But then he says, all the saints greet you,

especially those of Caesar's household.

And you think to yourself,

well, what's important about Caesar's household?

Well, Caesar was the ruler at the time.

Caesar was the one under whose name Paul

was being held in prison.

Caesar's household was the guards who was keeping him.

And you think, well, here's the church at Philippi

hearing that they are to greet Caesar's household

who would be almost seen as the enemy,

the ones who are holding Paul.

And yet he's saying, greet them.

And what's made the difference?

Well, it's those who are of, greet the saints.

So there are saints now in Caesar's household.

That even through Paul's imprisonment,

nothing has been wasted by God.

That God has used this imprisonment

to bring people to know Jesus.

Even people who are sworn enemies of Christians

and the Christian faith, Caesar's household,

some have been converted.

And it's a reason for rejoicing.

It's a reason to remember the grace

of the Lord Jesus Christ

and the wonder of that grace

that makes all the difference.

the wonder of that grace

that we invite people to come and hear of.

The wonder of that grace

that can unite all people.

The saints in Christ Jesus.

The brothers who are with me.

The saints.

All the saints greet you,

especially Caesar's household.

That God has people everywhere.

And that in that,

we can rejoice.

that God's abundant provision

is that he is saving his people

here, there, and everywhere.

And it's wonderful when we hear

God saving people.

God's work of salvation.

God working in power

to bring people

to know the grace and the glory

of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And in that, we can rejoice

that God is working.

That God is drawing people

to himself.

And that together,

we see that and rejoice

in that as well.

And that together,

we share in that.

And then we share

with one another.

And it's a reminder here

as Paul is concluding his letter,

greet, salute, remember,

encourage, help.

All of these things are bound up

in what he's saying.

Quietly love one another.

Graciously receive one another.

As Paul speaks here,

he's speaking about fellowship.

And fellowship is all through

the New Testament.

It's the togetherness

of God's people,

of sharing with one another.

And I read a thing about

Charles Spurgeon

and his wife recently.

And it was something

that I was surprised

to read of.

And it was a simple story.

And it reminds us

of just what it means

to be there for one another.

Charles Spurgeon

and his wife,

they had hens.

And as their hens

would lay eggs,

they would sell the eggs.

They refused to give them away.

They would always sell them,

even to close relatives.

They were told,

well, if you want eggs,

you have to pay for them.

And this led to them

being criticized.

People thought

they were selfish

and greedy.

And why is it

that they would do this

and not just give them away?

And it wasn't until after

Spurgeon's wife passed away

that it became known

just what was behind it all.

all the money

that they received

from selling eggs

was used to support

two widows.

They would receive criticism,

but they wouldn't

defend themselves.

They didn't want to know

that they were helping

or that these women

were being helped.

They just quietly did it

and accepted the criticism.

And that is fellowship

in the gospel.

Looking out for one another.

And that is the greetings

that we are to share

and to show

to those around us,

to all the saints,

to all who are in Christ,

even those who surprise us

that they are in Christ,

those of Caesar's household.

How many people

have we seen surprises

in their coming to the Lord,

maybe even questioned

whether it's real?

But we are to greet

one another.

greet one another

in Christ Jesus.

And then finally,

you have these closing words.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

be with your spirit.

Paul closes this letter

with what we would call

a benediction.

And a benediction

is something

that you will hear

at every service.

You'll hear it at funerals.

You'll hear it whenever

the gospel is being preached.

But we can just kind of,

as we do with a closing

of a letter,

we can just glance over it

as unimportant.

We can start looking

for our keys

when the minister says

we're going to close

with a benediction.

We can start sorting

ourselves out.

And yet,

it's such an important thing.

So what is

a benediction?

What is Paul

closing with here?

The grace

of the Lord Jesus Christ

be with your spirit.

He's closing with words

that are not just

his own.

Or a blessing

that's just

from himself.

He's closing

with the blessing

of God.

A reminder

that the word of God

is from God

himself.

That God

is speaking

to us.

that God

wants

what is good

for us.

That God

remembers us.

And so that as we go

from here

and as the church

at Philippi

was receiving

this letter

and coming to the

close of this letter,

that they would go on

in the grace

of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That is what it is

for ourselves

as well.

to go from here

under the blessing

of God

and to know

God

with us

and to know

the grace

of the Lord

Jesus Christ

with our spirit.

Think of yourselves

even as you go home

today.

You'll go home

perhaps

and you'll sit

at the table

whether it's with family

and friends

or just by yourself.

you'll sit

and you'll eat

something

and as we do

we will say

a word of grace

before we have

our food.

Or just think

of these words.

The grace

of the Lord

Jesus Christ

be with

your spirit.

Grace,

a word of thanks

before a meal

can just become

another habit,

another routine,

another ritual

and we just

say the words

and we eat.

But do we think

about what

our words mean?

Do we think

about what is

before us?

That we are

thanking the Lord

for the food

that we have,

for the blessings

that we enjoy

from his hand,

that he enables

us to go on

in his strength.

Without

the grace

of the Lord

Jesus Christ

we have nothing.

but in it

we remember

that God

has remembered

us.

Whether it's

sitting at a meal

or whatever

we are doing

we do it

by the grace

of our Lord

Jesus Christ.

And even as

you sit at a meal

today

remember the

provision,

the abundant

provision that

God is preparing

for his people.

A meal,

a banquet

prepared for

those of his

people

who will come

into his glory

and share

with him.

We have an

abundance

because he

who was rich

for our sake

became poor.

That Christ

came into

this world

to give

himself for us.

What Paul

has written

earlier in this

letter in

chapter 2

those wonderful

words,

have this mind

among yourselves

which is yours

in Christ Jesus

who,

though he was

in the form

of God

did not

count equality

with God

a thing to be

grasped

but made

himself

nothing.

Taking the

form of a

servant

being born

in the likeness

of men

and so it

goes on

to the point

where it

describes himself

giving his

life

on a tree.

He emptied

himself.

He made

himself

nothing.

He was rich

but for

our sakes

he became

poor.

Why?

So that we

might be rich

through him.

The grace

of the Lord

Jesus Christ

is something

precious.

Something to

give thanks

for.

Something to

remember

every day.

Back in

2015

Mark Zuckerberg

the creator

of Facebook

and who made

a fortune

out of it

he announced

that he was

going to

spend or

give 99%

of his

wealth

to charity

and his

wealth

even at that

point

was no

small figure.

He was

worth

roughly

45 billion

dollars

at that

time.

He was

going to

give away

99%

still

leaving

with

450

million

dollars.

You think

well

give it

away

and still

be left

rich.

the creator

of Facebook

a billionaire.

Well think

about what

the Lord

has given

for us.

The creator

of the

heavens

and the

earth.

Not

99%

but 100%

gave his

all.

He gave

his life

that we

might have

life

in him.

That we

might have

the grace

of the

Lord Jesus

Christ

in our

spirit.

That we

might have

him with

us as

we sit

at a

meal.

We

remember

as we

give

thanks

he is

present.

That we

remember

his grace

as we

sit with

loved

ones

as they

pass away

that he

is with

us.

That we

remember

his grace

when we

are sick

or someone

else is

sick

that he

is with

us.

That we

remember

his grace

when we

are in

these

times of

joy and

gladness

that he

is with

us.

This letter

reminds us

of his

great love

that he

has

remembered

us

that he

has not

forgotten

us.

And the

benediction

that he

concludes

with

reminds us

of all

of these

things.

The glory

of God

the greetings

the fellowship

that we

have

in Christ

and the

grace

that is

ours

through

him.

I often

quote

older hymns

but there's

some new

ones that

speak to

us as

well and

this one

from Australia

speaks of

the grace

of God.

What gift

of grace

is Jesus

my Redeemer?

There is

no more

for heaven

now to

give.

He is

my joy

my righteousness

and freedom

my steadfast

love

my deep

and boundless

peace.

What gift

of grace

is Jesus

my Redeemer?

And here

we have

the grace

of the

Lord Jesus

Christ

who is

with us.

May we

know

that gift

of grace

and hold

fast to

him as

he holds

fast to

us.

Let us

pray.

our

Father in

heaven we

rejoice in

the hope

that is

ours in

Christ

that whatever

our circumstances

plenty or need

we can rejoice

in his

strength and

help us to

give glory

and praise

to him.

Help us to

greet and

fellowship with

one another

through him

and help us

to know

the grace

and the

strength that

that gives

of our

Lord Jesus

Christ

with our

spirit as

we ask it

in his

name.

Amen.

Let's

conclude by

singing to

God's praise

in Psalm

28.

The Sing

Psalms version

Psalm 28

on page

33.

We'll

sing from

verse 6

to 9

6 down

to the end

of the

psalm.

Psalm 28

on page

33.

Praise to

the Lord

for he has

heard the

plea for

mercy which

I made.

He is my

strength,

he is my

shield,

I trust

in him

who sends

me aid.

The tune is

Warrington

and we'll

sing these

three stanzas.

Praise to

the Lord

for he

he has

hurt the

plea for

mercy which

I

need.

He is my

strength,

he is my

shield,

I trust in

him who

sends me

heed.

My heart

uplifted

for joy,

my

thanks to

him I

gladly

sing.

The

Lord all

is his

people's

strength,

love,

a saving

fortress

for his

king.

Lord,

save your

people,

your own

flock,

be

pleased

your

heritage

heritage

to

bless,

be

their

good

shepherd,

carry

them

forever

in

your

faithfulness.

Lord,

bless.

I will

close with

a

benediction.

Now may

grace,

mercy,

and peace

from God

our

Father,

God our

Son,

and the

Holy Spirit

be with us

all now

and forever

more.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.