Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 46

Paul Thanks the Church @ Philippi for their Generosity to him Part 4

Philippians 4:17-19 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. KJV

In concluding his thanksgiving to these Brothers and Sisters in Christ in the Church @ Philippi, Paul wanted them to know that it was not their gifts (although he desperately needed whatever it was they provided), but it was more of the evidence shown of the genuineness of their faith in helping out another Brother in Christ who was in dire need, Paul declares it to them with these words, “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” (Philippians 4:17) (KJV). In this case, the fruit Paul refers to here is figurative language meaning that he craved more so in the seeing them storing up treasures for themselves in heaven by caring for the physical needs of the Lord Jesus’ vessel the Apostle Paul. At the Judgement seat of Christ, believers will be rewarded for their faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ and likewise be left in shame before Him for our unfaithfulness to Him. The Apostle Paul knowing full well of this fact strongly desired these believers in Philippi to have their individual and collective accounts of giving to those in need that belong to our Lord Jesus Christ to increase in heaven, for in so helping Paul these believers whether they fully understood at the time were giving as if they were giving directly to our Lord Jesus Christ Himself locked away in a Roman Dungeon as He declared with these words written to those of us in the Millennial Reign, “And when did we see You sick or in prison and came to visit You? And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me.” (Matthew 25:39-40) (Amplified Bible).

Paul did not desire their gifts out of covetousness; as many are seen and heard today on TV and Radio trying to con, coerce, and cause people to send money to them and their ministry not because they are in need like was the Apostle Paul here, but because they desire riches for themselves and have no true desire to spread the Gospel throughout the world because they are covetous false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Paul knew that our God is just with everyone and especially all of those who give to the work of getting out the Word of God as the Apostle Paul was always going about everywhere and in everyplace spreading the Gospel of Christ as he wrote in his letter to the Hebrews with these words concerning our Heavenly Father, “For God is not unrighteous to forget {or} overlook your labor and the love which you have shown for His name’s sake in ministering to the needs of the saints (His own consecrated people), as you still do.” (Hebrews 6:10) (Amplified Bible). Evidently it was the visit from one of the Brothers from the Church @ Philippi (Epaphroditus who became ill serving Paul) where Paul received probably the clothes he needed, food he needed and wanted, as well as some amount of money no doubt (Philippians 2:25) as he confirms to them his present condition with these words, “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.” (Philippians 4:18) (KJV).

Paul who had just written to them of having learned to be content in whatever his current conditions, tells them that their gifts sent by Brother Epaphroditus has more than satisfied his needs there in Rome he needs nothing more from them and what they have already done has gone up to our Father in Heaven just as the sweet smell of the incense burning in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the smell of the burning flesh of the animal sacrifices performed in the very same Temple as Moses described when writing of the Exodus from Egypt with these words, “Then you shall take them from their hands, add them to the burnt offering, and burn them on the altar for a sweet {and} satisfying fragrance before the Lord; it is an offering made by fire to the Lord.” (Exodus 29:25) (Amplified Bible). Paul knows that just as God the Father saw all that went on in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem by His Chosen people the Jews, He now sees all the acts of loving kindness that one believer in Christ renders to another and He will reward them accordingly as Paul also said to the Hebrews with these words, “Do not forget {or} neglect to do kindness {and} good, to be generous {and} distribute {and} contribute to the needy [of the Church as embodiment and proof of fellowship], for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16) (Amplified Bible). Paul was filled full with the gift or gifts that came to him by way of Brother Epaphroditus and he knew that our Heavenly Father would furnish or supply to them all that they needed spiritually and physically to take care of their needs as he says to them with these words, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) (KJV).

The Philippian believers over and over again supplied the Apostle Paul the things he needed while ministering in Thessalonica and while he was confined in a Roman Dungeon, not because they sought after Paul’s favor (for they had that already), but because of their care for and concern for Paul and their desire to see the Word of God go forth in all the places the Apostle Paul was sent by our Lord Jesus Christ. This is why Paul was certain that God the Father would continue to supply every need they had because they were so desirous to supply every need the Apostle Paul had in the service of Christ Jesus our Lord. The Jewish Patriarch Jacob said perhaps best when he said, “Then [Jacob] blessed Joseph and said, God [Himself], before Whom my father’s Abraham and Isaac lived {and} walked habitually, God [Himself], Who has [been my Shepherd and has led and] fed me from the time I came into being until this day, the redeeming Angel [that is, the Angel the Redeemer--not a created being but the Lord Himself] Who has redeemed me continually from every evil, bless the lads! And let my name be perpetuated in them [may they be worthy of having their names coupled with mine], and the names of my father’s Abraham and Isaac; and let them become a multitude in the midst of the earth.” (Genesis 48:15-16) (Amplified Bible).

“As you have given to me in my distress, God will never suffer you to want without raising up help to you, as He raised you up for help to me. His fullness is infinite; and through Christ, whose followers we are, He will dispense every requisite blessing of providence, grace, and glory, to you.” Adam Clarke

“It is wonderful to hear Paul say that he abounded. A prison, a chain, a meager existence! The great ones of the world would have ridiculed the idea that any could be said to abound in such conditions. But they could not imagine the other hemisphere in which Paul lived; and out of his own blessed experience of what Christ could do, he promised that one’s every need would be supplied. God’s measure is His riches in glory; and His channel is Jesus Christ. Let us learn from Philippians 4:18 that every gift to God’s children which is given from a pure motive is acceptable to Him as a fragrant sacrifice.” F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…