Observations:
I asked myself what things stuck out in this passage?
Two things stuck out:

1. Giving and receiving!
2. Acknowledgement  of gifts

Observations:
I asked myself how were the Philippians helpful to Paul in the area of giving and receiving?

1. In the earliest days of the Philippians acquaintance with the Gospel, they gave aid to Paul when he set out from Macedonia even though no other church supported him.

2. When Paul was in Thessalonica, they sent him aid again and again when he was in need.

3. He has received full payment and even more from the Philippians.

4. He is amply supplied now because of the gifts sent to Paul from the Philippians by Epaphroditus.

Interpretations:
I asked myself the significance of what the Philippians did?
I found it fascinating that they supported Paul to do work outside of Philippi which is evidenced by places such as Macedonia and Thessalonica from their first acquaintance with the Gospel. They did not depend on others to support Paul but took it upon themselves. Even when other churches were not willing to support Paul, they stood out to give him support.

I was amazed the number of times they sent aid again and again when he was in need in Thessalonica which shows that their support was not a one time thing. Their partnership with Paul in the Gospel was an ongoing thing.

Because of the Philippians help, Paul was in a surplus rather than in a deficit at this point being amply supplied.

Interpretations:
I asked myself why would the Philippians go through all this?
What came to my mind is that they believed in what Paul was doing. They believed in the work of evangelism that Paul was engaged in that they took it upon themselves to provide aid to Paul so he could continue it. They must have seen Paul at work and what he was accomplishing for God’s Kingdom to be excited. In a way, Paul brought those supporters on board because he had a vision that the Philippians became excited about. They knew their support to Paul would be worth it and not squandered.
 
It is interesting that ‘full payment’ is mentioned. For me that meant the entire aid went to help Paul directly rather than overhead costs, etc. They wanted all of it to go to Paul.

Interpretations:
I asked myself how did Paul respond to all of this?

1. He told them that everything they were doing for him would be credited to their account.

2. They are a fragrant offering.

3. They are an acceptable sacrifice.

4. They are pleasing to God.

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
If I am able to, I need to support people who are in ministry doing the work of the Lord even when others do not support them. To do that will be that much easier if I believe in what they are doing and am excited about it. For that to happen, I need to know what is happening in their ministry and be excited enough to know it is worth the partnership. There are so many ministries out there and so many people who need support but I cannot support each one. Those I do support, I want to support because I am excited about what they are doing.

The other aspect of it is that people’s ministries need not be full blown Billy Graham Evangelistic Association success ratio as long as I am excited what they are doing in that area of ministry for the glory of the Lord.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING F.I.N.A.N.C.E:
When I was a campus minister, a young 25-year old girl showed up on a counseling channel I had created who was not doing well on an Easter afternoon. I shared with her a poem called 'Never Forsaken' that the Lord Jesus helped me write and counseled her if she wanted to take the next step to receive Jesus as her Lord and Personal Savior.  She wanted to become a follower of Christ and prayed with me.

Years later, she sent me money to support me financially in ministry reminding me of that day and writing to me that her husband later became a follower of Christ after seeing the change in her and that they were about to have a child. Others supported me too for doing ministry.

At the time those who supported me, decided to finance me because they believed in the work I was doing on campus reaching the students with the love of Christ through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF). Though I am not with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship anymore, what I did in those days vividly reminded me of what Andrea and Jason of Pitt-Asian InterVarsity are doing right now and what Ken wants to do.

I have seen with my own eyes what Andrea and Jason have started at Pitt with Asian-InterVarsity and became excited enough to want to support them financially so they are not burdened with raising support but can focus on ministering to students by counseling, discipling, and building relationships with them. I did not have to wait for a prayer letter because I have seen with my own eyes what is already happening. Even though due to financial reasons, I have not been able to support them for awhile, if I had the opportunity, I would support them in a heartbeart.

In my job, I come across some of the students they are ministering too. I see their excitement. One day one of the students I recommended for a job got the job and asked me if she could get Wednesday off so she could go to Asian InterVarsity. I was very impressed with her because of her priorities. :)

My financially support alone will not meet all the support they need to raise but if everyone who believes in what they are doing would prayerfully consider supporting them, they will raise their full support. They are not the only ones that need our prayers and support but many others who are passionately doing student ministry. Unfortunately, I cannot support everyone financially but can support through my prayers.

I have seen with my own eyes the effort and time they have spent in reaching out to Asian and African American students on campus, building relationships with them and providing opportunities for all of them to come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Personal Savior. Then, they make time to mentor those that do know Jesus.

The Philippians supported Paul because they were excited about how Paul was being used to proclaim Christ to others even if the Philippians were not part of the churches in Macedonia and Thessalonica. The same thing happened to me when I was supported by those who had no connection to InterVarsity but were blessed by the ministry the Lord Jesus used me in to bless them and help them to come to know Christ. They decided to finance me because they believed in what was happening. You too can finance others as you see what is happening around you and get excited about.  Ask for a prayer letter and pray to the Lord regarding it. Mostly, your prayers are appreciated. 

I have also seen the impact that Pastor Paul Bucknell's Biblical Foundations for Freedom has made including his missionary work in the lives of Indian, African, and Thai pastors. If there is a missionary that deserves our financial support, it would definitely be Pastor Paul. As you browse through the BFF, you too will realize the impact his website has upon countless lives throughout the world!  Thank you Jesus! As always even when we cannot support financially, we can support through our prayers.

I ask you now dear friend, who will you F.I.N.A.N.C.E  in ministry?
Dear friends, you have an opportunity to aid someone individually or collectively joining with others to aid them in ministry. 

Ask yourself which campus minister/pastor/missionary has ministered to you or others you know making an impact in lives. Then, pray how you can support them financially but especially through prayers.

You may not be able to finance each one but pray about it and ask the Lord to show you who to support financially. Most of all pray for all you know that are involved in ministry that even if you cannot write the check, the checks will come from the Lord to support them in their ministries for His honor and glory.

Get to know the person/s or ministries you want to support and ask yourself if you are excited about what is happening. If you are not then there are other ministries you can look at that can give you excitement to support if it is something you believe in.

Friend, I have learned as we support others they will be in a better position to continue in the ministry rather than having to always worry about their financial deficit. Now they can concentrate on ministering as their needs will be amply supplied. You can be one of them that can make that happen.

I know a majority of us cannot provide the whole amount of need individually but as each person does their part, it can happen.

From this passage one of the important principles I learned is that it is not up to me to worry whether other people give or not but for me to provide help for those whose mission is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I believe in. There were churches that did not support Paul and I don’t know the reasons why but that did not stop the Philippians from supporting him.

If you are a student it could be difficult to support those who are ministering to you but you can still support them by your daily prayers. Keep them in your prayers asking the Lord Jesus to guide and lead them and waiting on the Lord for the day that you can support them financially when you get a job, etc.

Please support those you can as you depend on the Lord Jesus Christ to direct you and lead you. And if you are able to, go check out what those you are supporting are doing. I have done that and first hand experience is what excited me the most to support Andrea and Jason through prayers and financially at the time.  I wish I could support all my friends in campus ministry but sadly I cannot but I can pray for them. You may not be able to finance everyone you want to but you can pray for them.

May you seek the Lord to provide help and support to those you know whose mission is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and who you are excited to partner with prayerfully and financially!

Our support of others who are doing God’s work will please the Lord. It will be a fragrant offering to Him. Many times it will be a sacrifice but it will be worth it. Sometimes the support can be only a one time support and others times it can be monthly but ask the Lord to help you.

May you walk that path to allow the Lord Jesus to use you to help someone else knowing all our support to others is because we want Jesus Christ to be known and want others to be known by Jesus Christ.

Friend, regardless of whether it is financing, sharing in others troubles, helping others find strength, etc, it is important to remember the reason is because  Jesus gives life and hope. It is Jesus we all need to reign in our lives because He alone through His power can reign over all our dreams and in our darkest hours. Sin has made each of our lives darkest and if it were not for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who showered His love upon our lives by His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, we would still be in darkness. I know I would have been still in darkness. I thank Jesus for coming to save me by ransoming me by His precious blood to give me new life. I thank Jesus for all He has done for me using others in my life. Jesus can do that for you too because Jesus is the Answer and head of the church, chief cornerstone, the only foundation! So let us fix our eyes on Jesus who is the mighty commander, King of Kings and Lord of Lords to lead us and guide us! Amen!

"Financially Incorporate New Allowances Nurturing Christ’s Evangelists!" (F.I.N.A.N.C.E)/"Who will you F.I.N.A.N..C.E in ministry?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I want to thank you so much for everything I got out of this lesson. Lord, you have shown me the importance of supporting people who do your work so they can be amply supplied. You have also let me know that not everyone will be willing to support but I need to do my part. Help me Oh Lord to know who to continue to support. Lord, you know all of our financial situations and what we are able to and unable to do. Many times it can be a sacrifice but I thank you that it will please you. That is what I want to go for. Oh Lord, continue to show us the right people or ministries to support for your honor and glory Lord for we cannot support everyone. Lord, I want to thank you for those that have supported me in the ministry and help me to support others in their ministry. Hear our prayers and please answer us Lord. Thank you so much Jesus for being there for us and that we can turn to you. Thank you for using others to support the Apostle Paul. Thank you Jesus! Whatever your will is for our lives please give us the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you for loving us so much and dying for our sins and coming back to life to save us as we yield to you. I love you Jesus. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, Holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)