3. Peace through giving (10-23) God is overruling in Lordship. v.10-12 God is unfailing in power. v.13-15 God is unchangeable in perfection. v.16-23 Thanksgiving for their recent gift brought by Epaphroditus. v.10-14 Thanksgiving for their previous gift. v.15-20 V.10-12 Paul trusted in the Lord’ s overruling Lordship and therefore was content in whatever state that the Lord had for him. V.10 a) Surety - Care of the Philippians. In 1:11 Paul exhorted them to bear fruit now he rejoices over that they flourished again (like a tree during spring). V.11 b) State - Content of Paul. I. Paul didn’ t rejoice because they met his need but because he saw their love and sharing. II. He had learnt through many years of serving God to be content. 1.Tim.6:6-8 V.12 c) Satisfaction - Character of Paul. I. Paul was content in prosperity or poverty. II. He had a spiritual mind that trusted His Lordship. V.13-15 Paul trusted in God’ s unfailing power and he knew that in Christ God had made available exceeding great power to live the Christian life. V.13 d) Strength - Capability in Christ. I. Paul knew that he would be safe in whatever state God allowed him to go through as long as he stayed within the will of God. Rom.8:28 II. It was the Spirit of Christ within him that unfolded His power to be content in whatever state he went through. 2.Cor.12:9 III. Paul knew that it wasn’ t him that could fulfil the call of God upon his life, but God would be faithful to complete it in whatever state he went through. Phil.1:6 V.14-15 e) Sharing - Charity of the Philippians. Paul gives his thanksgiving to the Philippians for their gift to him, he reveals that only they had been generous to him. V. 16-23 Paul knew that God is unchangeable in perfection and that he always rewards people who give generously. V.16 f) Sending - Collect received. I. Even before Paul arrived in Corinth had the Philippians sent him gifts in Thessalonica. Acts 17:1 (Thessalonica was the next town he visited after leaving Philippi) II. Their giving began not when they were mature but at their conversion. V.17 g) Seeking - Consideration of Paul. I. Paul began with a prayer for fruit bearing 1:9-11 and now he ends the letter with an encouragement concerning their fruit bearing. II. God keeps record of our giving. Eccl.11:1; Mat.6:19-21 V.18 h) Sacrifice - Commendable offering to God. I. The Philippians had given with such a measure that it was flowing over. II. It was not only sweet tasteful fruit for Paul but a sweet aroma in the sight of God. Mat.25:34-40 III. Even as the incense from the golden altar was a sweet smell before God so were their gifts a sweet aroma of sacrifice. Acts 10:1-4 IV. There are other sacrifices we can offer to God: 1. Our bodies. Rom.12:1-2 2. Our converts. Rom.15:16 3. Our praise. Heb.13:15 4. Our good works. Heb.13:16 V.19 i) Supply - Circuit of sowing and reaping. I. Supply (Gr. pleroo) means to level up or fill up. The Philippians had made Paul full and now God would make them to be filled up. Luke 6:38; Mat.7:2; Prov.11:25 II. God owns all things and is able to fulfil His promises, but these promises are only to generous givers who gives full measures. III. God meet the need not the greed. IV. We have in these verses: 1. The Promise. (Shall supply) 2. The Amount. (All your need) 3. The Capital. (According to His riches) 4. The Bank Address, (In glory) 5. The Signature. (By Jesus Christ) V. Our contentment comes from: 1. Providence of God. v.10, 14-18 2. Power of God. v.13, 19 3. Promises of God. v.19 V.20 j) Splendour - Chorus of Paul. All the glory should be returned to God, also what He had been doing in the Philippians. V.21-23 a) Greeting - Conclusion. Paul began with grace 1:2 and ends with grace, all things that comes from God is by grace, no believer deserves anything from God and God owes no believer anything yet He gives him everything. 1.Cor.3:21-23 “ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice” Phil.4:4 “ I rejoice at Your Word As one who finds great treasure” Psalms 119:162 International Bible School - 46 - International Bible School Reference material used in making the Bibleschool manual: Bible Commentaries: Thomas L. Constable’ s - Notes on Philippians. Chuck Missler’ s - Written and audio commentary on the epistle of Philippians. Jon Courson’ s - Thru-the-Bible audio commentary on the epistle of Philippians. Chuck Smith’ s - Audio commentary on the epistle of Philippians. Edward Hindson/Michael Woodrow’ s - King Jame's Bible Commentary on the epistle of Philippians. John Miller - Commentary on the epistle of Philippians. Zondervan’ s Niv’ s - Expositor's Bible Commentary of the epistle of Philippians. J. Vernon McGee’ s - Commentary on the epistle of Philippians. David Hocking’ s - Commentary on the epistle of Philippians. H. L. Willmington’ s - Guide to the Bible. Old commentaries were used as well with minor help. Bible Surveys and outlines: Valleys Bible Church’ s - Bible survey on the epistle of Philippians. J. Hampton Keathley’ s - Survey on the epistle of Philippians. Nelson’ s - Complete book of Bible maps and charts. H. L. Willmington’ s - The Outline Bible. Harvestime International Institute’ s - Basic Bible survey. Bob Bolender’ s - Survey on the epistle of Philippians. Gerald Duckett - Bible’ s survey on the epistle of Philippians. Mark A. Copeland’ s - Executable Outlines. Ray C Stedman’ s - Panorama of the Scriptures. Old Testament types and figures: Kevin T. Connor’ s - The feasts of Israel. Kevin T. Connor’ s - The tabernacle of Moses. Kevin T. Connor’ s - The temple of Solomon. Encyclopaedia/ Dictionaries: International standard Bible Encyclopaedia. Nelson’ s - Illustrated Bible dictionary. Dictionary of Biblical imagery. Greek reference material: Strong’ s - Exhaustive concordance. Thayer’ s - The new Thayer’ s Greek-English lexicon. Englishman’ s - The Englishman’ s Greek concordance and lexicon. Vine’ s - Complete expository dictionary. Bible versions: King James Version 1984 - Is the Bible translation used in this manual. Hendrickson’ s - The interlinear Bible.