Will God Supply Your Needs?
Philippians 4
10. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things [which were sent] from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God’s Provision
In dealing with this passage, I want to start at the end and work our way backward, in order to get a clear understanding of the truths presented here.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
"My God" - Who are we talking about here? Let us be clear! We are talking about the Almighty - the Creator - the one who is over all and makes something out of nothing.
If anybody can meet your needs, He can. Paul says, My God. Not some other God. Not just any old God. But My God - the God I preach. The God who sustains me and meets my needs can meet your needs.
"Shall supply" -
He can supply -
The children of Israel challenged God in the wilderness with the question -
Psalms 78:19 Yea, they spake against God; they said,
Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
He can, and He did! Moses never let them forget it.
Deuteronomy 2:7 For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God [hath been] with thee; thou hast lacked nothing. (AV)
When the prophet Elijah was in need, God was there to provide.
1 Kings 17:6 And
the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. (AV)
And then again at the widows house.
1 Kings 17:16 [And] the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah. (AV)
And again, when he was discouraged.
1 Kings 19:6 And he looked, and, behold, [there was] a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. (AV)
God apparently cooked Elijah a meal, just like Jesus did on the seashore for the disciples when they were discouraged over His crucifixion.
Then God did the same thing for Elisha, Elijah’s replacement.
2 Kings 4:6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, [There is] not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. (AV)
Then, in the NT we see God doing it again - multiplying food to feed 5000 + women and children.
Matthew 14:20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. (AV)
Yes, God is able. And, God is willing.
Psalms 115:12 The LORD hath been
mindful of us: he will bless [us];
Matthew 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for
your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (He knows before you ask.)Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and
all these things shall be added unto you. (AV)
Luke 12:7 But even the very
hairs of your head are all numbered.
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all
, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (AV)
"All your need" -
He knows your needs - before you ask - and he will provide for His own. But God will not spoil His children. He will take care of every legitimate need, but we don’t need all the things we think we need.
Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I
not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (AV)
We must learn to be content with such things as we have, instead of always grasping for more.
1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (AV)
6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. (AV)
6:7 For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. 1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (AV)
6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (AV)
We’ll discuss this more later.
God will supply all we need.
Psalms 23:1 The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. (AV)
"According to His riches" -
illus. My dad was not a wealthy man. He worked hard to provide for us, and he did a good job. He provided the best he could. My first car was a ’58 Chevy. This was in 1968.
My friend’s dad was a doctor. His first car was a 68 Camaro.
Each father provided according to his riches.
Our heavenly Father? He paves His streets with gold!
Contentment
With such great provision at our disposal, we have to guard against greed or over-indulgence. We can easily get spoiled.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things [which were sent] from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
Paul is clear. In verse 10, we see the occasion of his writing is that he has received a financial gift from the church of Philippi. He is careful to let them know that is appreciative, but not grasping for more. He refuses to take advantage of their generosity or of the provision of the Lord.
On the contrary, look at verses 11-12.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Paul is ready to settle for whatever is provided, whether it be little or much. He has determined to be content, whatever the lot.
It is not a Christian attitude to be grasping and demanding and claiming as King’s Kids. It is not Christian to grumble about meager circumstances or hard situations. Instead, we should learn to be thankful in all things, be it little or more, and in every state, whether
of adversity or prosperity; and quietly and patiently submit to the will of God, and cheerfully take and bear whatever is assigned us as our portion.
We should quietly and patiently submit to God’s will - cheerfully taking whatever He sees fit to give us. Sometimes hard times are in His will.
Divine ability -
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Now, let me put this verse in its proper context. It is usually misapplied as to its meaning.
Correctly interpreted in its context, it means, "I can handle anything that comes - I can endure any circumstance." It does not mean, "I can do anything." Though that may be true, the believer can and should do whatever is necessary to the best of his ability, and trusting in God’s ability, it is not the point of this particular text.
"Through Christ" - only through His enabling can we do anything of eternal value.
He is our sufficiency -
2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves . . . but our sufficiency [is] of God; (AV)
He is our wisdom, righteousness, redemption -
1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (AV)
He is our peace -
Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, . . .
Sowing and reaping
What is the reason behind all this blessing?
With every promise we find a condition - something that makes the promise work - something that sets us in position to receive - God gives us a button to push to make things happen.
What is it that releases His supply? Faithful giving!
In verse 10 we see that the Philippians have sent a financial gift.
10. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; . . .
And again, verse 14 -
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
Now, pay close attention to verse 17 -
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
‘fruit that may abound to your account’, or ‘that it may be credited to your account’.
Paul’s concern with believer’s giving is not that he may receive provision, but that they may build up their account with God.
Do you understand? We don’t want you to give so we will do better. We want you to give so you will do better.
In Malachi 3, we see that tithing secures the blessing of God.
Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts,
if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].Malachi 3:11
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.Malachi 3:12 And
all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Paying the tithe is required in order to receive the blessing. If you withhold the tithe, God calls you a thief, and He lifts His covering. You are at the mercy of the devourer - the enemy - the devil - if you don’t tithe.
Let me again echo Paul’s message here. "I want you to sow to your heavenly account, so you will have plenty to draw from."
What I see in the church is horrendous - a slap in the face of God. We pray, we sing, we worship and dry - but we withhold our finances from God.
We should He listen to us? We are disobedient! We are thieves! We are stealing from our own Father! And then we have the nerve to ask Him to bless us! What gall! What audacity!
That’s like evading taxes and applying for welfare at the same time.
There are many who have received great blessings, great ministry, great provision from God and His church, who have not put in near what they have taken out.
Please hear me - you are robbing God and God will not take it lightly. Yes, He loves you, but you cannot ignore His principles of finance and ever hope to prosper.
There are many who do not pay tithes, but they lavish themselves with expensive jewelry and playthings, luxurious possessions and such.
It has always been my understanding that I have no right to pamper myself when I owe someone else money. How dare we short God and pamper ourselves?
I warn you, for your own sake, God will not leave this sin unpunished. God loves a cheerful, willing give - it is best to give out of a heart overflowing with love and gratitude. But if you must, then give faithfully out of a sense of fear of what will befall you if you don’t.
In our passage, Paul is essentially saying, "Because you have given to support the work of the gospel, God will, in turn, supply all your need."
Next Sunday, we have designated as ALL TITHE SUNDAY. We want everyone to bring in a full 10% tithe and let’s see what our potential is.
The Gift
2Co 9:15 Thanks [be] unto God for his unspeakable gift. (AV)
2Co 9:15 Thanks be to God for his
indescribable gift! (NIV)
illus.
God’s gift is perfect -
Jas 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV)
Life itself is a gift from God.
1Pe 3:7 . . . of the gracious
gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (NIV)
The gift of God is eternal life.
Ro 6:23 . . .
the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
God’s grace and our faith are gifts he gives to us.
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God-- (NIV)
The Holy Spirit is a precious gift that abides with us.
Ac 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And
you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)
The gifts must be used.
1Ti 4:14
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. (NIV)