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During the month of May -- I asked you to wrap yourselves in the 4th chapter of Paul's letter to the church at
I can do everything through Him (Christ) who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving & receiving, except you only; -- for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again & again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment & even more; -- I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. -- To our God & Father be glory for ever & ever. Amen.
What a great passage! -- What a great promise! Philippians 4:19 -- "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
This verse is very familiar to most Christians. We quote it; -- we write it; -- & we underline it in our Bibles! But the crucial question today is: -- Do we really believe it?
Many years ago -- a German peasant named Dobry lived in a village near
God doesn't always provide in such a dramatic way. But such experiences encourage us! God is alive! -- He knows our needs! -- He will provide! You & I worship a God Who is greater than any & all of our problems & our needs! God's provisions are always greater than our needs!
What a pity that as Christians we so often act as though God's store-house of power & supply is nearly depleted. No Christian ever need beg bread with a promise like this in the Bible! We are unkind to ourselves & dishonoring to God when we plague ourselves with nervous fears & anxiety!
But with this great Bible promise -- "My God will meet all your needs ..." -- why? -- Why do Christians still have needs? Is Phil. 4:19 true? -- Is God a liar? -- Is this promise no longer valid? My friends -- let me assure you -- it is valid! -- It is true!
Before we look at this great promise -- let's put it into it's context! In the passage I have read -- you will discover there is both a premise & a promise. Many people want to claim the promise of verse 19 -- & apply it to their lives -- while ignoring -- or avoiding the premise found in verses 14-18! We want to leap-frog over verses 14-18 -- & land on verse 19. But in order to get to verse 19 -- we must get there by walking through verses 14-18.
What is the premise upon which the promise is based? In a word -- it is Generosity! This does not take away from the greatness of the promise; -- it adds to the beauty of the promise.
Having just received a generous gift from the church at
The saying: -- "You cannot out give God" -- is true! If we are generous toward others -- God will be most generous toward us! -- God loves a cheerful giver!
Let me illustrate this in a simple way. Suppose I were to go to the Bank One in Willcox -- & ask: "How much interest did you pay me last year?" The banker would ask: -- "Well, what is your account number? -- Let's see how much do you have deposited with us?" I would have to answer: -- "Well, I don't have an account here; -- I have not deposited anything." The banker would smile at me & say: -- "Sir, we have a rule here at the bank. -- You don't make any interest if you don't make a deposit."
That same premise is true in the Christian life as well. How do you store up treasures in Heaven? We do so by giving time -- talent, along with our tithes & offerings!
Are you giving? -- Giving to the needs of others & to the needs of the church? -- Are you making deposits into the Bank of Heaven? If you are -- you will discover that God gives a far greater interest rate than any earthly bank! But you can short-circuit God's blessing in your life by being stingy! Or -- you can give -- & to you it will be greatly given!
You see -- your generosity is an encouragement to others. Your generosity makes you more like Jesus! Your generosity is an investment in eternity. Your generosity is a sacrifice to God -- & that is why Paul says in vr. 18 -- "(Your gifts) are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God."
Now -- having understood the premise -- let's claim the promise! Notice with me three very important things about this great promise: --
1. WHAT A SOURCE! -- "God"
Our trust is not in the job market.
Our trust is not in the banking institutions
Our trust is not in the U.S. Government.
Our trust is not in the stocks -- or the bond market!
God is our source! -- With Him there are no limited quantities!
No matter how great our need -- or how heavily we might have already drawn upon heaven's resources -- the Source will never run dry! God's love has no limit! -- God's grace has no measure! God's power has no boundary! -- In fact -- His power is supreme. His wisdom is unbounded. -- His provisions are inexhaustible! Oh praise His name forever!
In writing to the Ephesians -- Paul reminded them that God "is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (3:20). It is impossible for our faith to overdraw its account in the Bank of Heaven! Our poverty never puts a moments strain on God's provision!
The story is told that one day a beggar by the roadside asked for alms from Alexander the Great as he passed by. The man was poor & wretched -- & had no claim upon the ruler -- or right even to lift a soliciting hand. Yet the Emperor threw several gold coins to a beggar along the road. One of Alexander's messengers was astonished at the generosity -- & commented: -- "Sir, copper coins would adequately meet a beggar's need. -- Why give him gold?" Alexander responded in royal fashion: -- "Copper coins would suit the beggar's need -- but gold coins suit Alexander's giving."
What an illustration this is of God's response toward His children! We ask for copper; -- He gives us gold!
2. WHAT A SUPPLY! -- "His riches in glory"
In a letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul prayed for the believers that the Lord would bless them "according to the riches of His glory" (3:16). Oh -- what vast resources are suggested by these words! We need have no fear that the supply will ever be exhausted. Our needs can never -- nor will ever -- exhaust God's ample & plentiful supply!
It is our sweet privilege to place "all our need" over against His riches! Lose sight of the former in the presence of the latter! Lose sight of your need in the presence of His riches!
Inflation may dwindle our earthly savings. The cost of living may nibble away at our reserves. But heaven's bank has boundless resources! His exhaustless treasury is ours!
There is a Pennsylvania Dutch expression that says: "There's more in the kitchen when this gets all." It's just another way of saying: -- "When what you have is all gone, there's more where that came from!" How much more wonderful this thought is in the spiritual realm!
We have the assurance that no matter how great our need; -- no matter how heavily we have already drawn upon Heaven's resources -- there's more "when this gets all!" The word "supply" means, literally -- "to fill full!"
3. WHAT A CHANNEL -- "Christ Jesus"
When Paul says "riches in glory" he puts them up high above our reach! But when he adds "in Christ Jesus" he brings them down amongst us! Jesus is our very best Friend! Jesus laid down His own life on our behalf!
You & I are poor sinners who stand spiritually bankrupt before God! We have nothing to offer Him. -- Our righteousness is of no value. Christ, however, is God's beloved Son! And He is the Channel through which we can make our wishes made known to God!
The song writer, Annie Johnson Flint, put it like this: -- "For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, & giveth, & giveth again!"
Suppose you were bankrupt -- & afraid to write even the smallest check. You are standing there -- check book in hand -- not knowing what to do. Then someone of great wealth lays a hand on your shoulder & says: -- "Go ahead. You can count on me. -- I am behind you for any amount."
My friend -- think of Jesus as providing us with the limitless backing of His grace! He is saying to us: -- "Draw on the merits of My life & death. -- I'll back you up before My Father for any amount!"
What we discover here is a blank check: -- the firm is "My God" -- the promise is "shall supply" -- the amount is "all your need" -- the address of the bank is "in glory" -- & the signature is "Christ Jesus." All we need do is to endorse the check & cash it!
Conclusion: -- What a Source -- "God"! -- What a Supply -- "His riches in glory!" -- What a Channel -- "Christ Jesus!"
Allow me to give you just a word of caution. Sometimes we create our own need because of our wants. Through credit-card buying -- & easy payment plans -- we get every thing we want -- our hearts desires -- & than can't pay for it all. That's not God's fault; -- don't blame Him! God will not gratify our whims! -- God will supply our need!
The Bible does say: -- "Delight thyself ... in the Lord; -- & He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). First -- we must delight in Him; -- in doing so, He may purge many of our desires! The promise of Philippians 4:19 -- is for the supplying of our needs -- not our greed!
But having said that -- think about this question for a moment; -- ask yourself: -- "What are my needs?" Not just a few of them; -- not just the primary ones. Not even just the spiritual ones; -- but all of them! Are you encompassed with needs at this very moment? Almost overwhelmed with difficulties -- trials & emergencies? Do you ever get the blues? -- You know, the times when the press of day-to-day life gets you down. -- Too much to do. -- Too many problems. Too little of some necessity -- but an abundance of some difficulty?
Is your need financial? -- Physical? -- Emotional? -- Or is it spiritual? Problems at home? -- with the kids? -- with your job? -- with other people? -- Has the doctor given you bad news?
I find that question is a serious & probing one -- & I realize I don't have the answer to to all the problems people bring to me. But I have discovered that no burden is too heavy for God's almighty arms. It is interesting -- actually, it is awesome -- how our spiritual, as well as our material needs -- & physical & emotional needs -- can be met by the loving gift of God's grace! God's provisions are always greater than our problems! Nothing is too small -- but that God is still interested. Nothing is too great -- too big -- beyond God's ability to meet the need!
Today -- your strength is zapped -- your joy is crushed -- & your hope needs to be rejuvenated. These needs are all divinely provided vessels for the Holy Spirit to fill. Your needs are opportunities for receiving new blessings & deliverances which only God can fill.
Are we looking in the wrong directions for the meeting of our needs? Then, dear friend -- look up to God! Can you say with the Apostle Paul -- "My God"? Do you know Him personally today? -- You can, you know!
If you are unsaved -- then trust Jesus Christ today! Or if you are a Christian -- but living like a spiritual pauper -- confess your sin -- & rededicate your life to God now!
In faith believing -- bring all your pressing needs to your Heavenly Father even this very moment! He will hear -- & He will answer you in His own wonderful way!
Pastor Lyle Pettit -- Wynne Chapel -- Cochise, AZ
www.wynnechapel.org