Being Supplied By The Lord Tape: D-32 E. Rome Time: 5/5/02 11 a.m. Text: Philippians- 4: 10-19 Key Verse- V.19 Key verse: V.19- But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Introduction: Notice the word shall in V.19. The word shall makes this verse another promise verse. There are many promises in the Bible that gives encouragement to saints. In the day that we live, we need all the encouragement that we can get. In this introduction, let us look at two things pertaining to this particular promise before we get into the message. First 1. This Verse Is A Miracle Promise For The Needy V.19a- My God shall supply all your need- Now, I want to ask you a question? Do you believe the Bible? Do you believe this promise of God? He said, He would supply all your needs. Not every other one, but all your needs. Well, if God said it, He will! CLAIM YOUR PROMISE! 2. This Verse Is A Misunderstood Promise For The Greedy This verse has been one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible. Greedy Christians has misinterpreted this verse. This verse does not say, I will supply all your wants, this verse says your needs. A lot of Christians can never enjoy their salvation because of greed. They covet possessions all the time. They are obsessed with wanting more and more. God will never give us all we want, because He knows that it would ruin our lives. He knows that we would stop putting Him first in our lives. He wants to have preeminence in our lives. A lot of cult leaders have taken this verse out of context to teach on prosperity, to fatten their own pocketbooks and to get rich. 1
They live in spacious mansions, drive fancy, expensive cars, while their members barely get by. So, this is a miracle promise, and this is a misunderstood promise.. Let s examine this promise, and see what this verse really says to the believer. I. Paul Commences By Talking About The Provider A. His Provider Was A Particular God V.19- My God shall supply- It is as though Paul was saying, the God that I am talking about is different from the god s of the Grecians or the Corinthians, or the many gods that people looked to in that day. Other Gods may not be able to supply their needs, but our true and living God is able to provide our needs. Their god s are powerless, and lifeless, and helpless, but our true and living God is able to take care of our needs. B. His Provider Was A Personal God V.19- My God- He was not only a particular God to Paul, He was also Paul s personal God. In V.19- we can see how Paul s personal God became his personal God. Listen V.19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. >Paul had accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour, and this made his God his personal God and his Heavenly Father. >V.19- reveals that God through His Son, Jesus Christ, provides our needs. >It is a Family affair, God through His Son provides our needs. Paul Commences By Talking About The Provider II. Paul Continues By Talking About The Provision V.19-My God shall supply all your need- 2
>Notice the provision. It is in the little word, need. Question? If some one come up to you and asked what is the most important needs for a child of God, material or spiritual, what would your answer be? If you don t know, it is your spiritual needs. A. There Is The Needs In The Spiritual Realm Of Life 1. There Is The Need Of Pardon The Bible says that we all sin and come short of the glory of God. I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Listen to David, when he had un-forgiveness in his life. Psalms 51:3 My sin is ever before me 51:8- Make me to hear joy and gladness. 51:12- Restore unto me the joy of my salvation. Friend, wouldn t you hate to know that you had to live under the condemnation of God, because you sinned and couldn t be forgiven. Well, that is not the way it is, thank God that He forgives us when we ask him. 2. There Is The Need Of Protection The devil would like to kill every dedicated, committed Child of God. We need the Lord s protection. 2 Samuel 22: 2,3 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock: in him will I trust; He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Saviour, thy savest me from violence. Listen to Satan s own word! Job 1: 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, We need to thank God for providing protection. In fact, God has guarding angels to protect His children. 3. There Is The Need Of Power 3
Reminder- Philippians 4:13-I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. 1 John 4:4 -Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. The Lord provides his power to live the Christian life, plus being victorious over the Devil. 4. There Is The Need Of Prospect 1 Corinthian 15:9 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. Friend, God provided us hope through His Son, when he conquered the grave on the third day. He will soon come back after his saints. There Is The Needs In The Spiritual Realm Of Life B. There Is The Needs In The Secular Realm Of Life There are three basic needs in the secular realm of life. Food, clothing, and shelter are the basic needs in life. Turn to Matthew 5:25-33 The Lord tells us about those needs, and meeting those needs, when we put Him first in our lives. Question? How does the Lord meet our needs? I want us to think about three primary ways. 1. The Lord Provides Needs By Laboring Christians 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. V.11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. V.12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. If a person has good health and is able to work, they are to work to take care of their needs. 2. The Lord Provides Needs By Loving Christians In verses 11-19- the Lord talks about the Philippian saints talking care of Paul s needs by sending Epaphroditus to Paul with a love offering. Listen to V.18- But I have all, and abound:i am full, 4
having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an order of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. Paul said that God was well pleased with them sending the love offering. You see, God laid the burden on the Philippian saints heart to help Paul out with a love offering. They were obedient, but God got all the credit, because He laid the burden on their hearts. Paul said that the love offering was like an order of a sweet smell. The Love offering lifted the financial burden that Paul had on him. Question? Are you sensitive to the Holy Spirit, when God lays it on your heart to help a burdened brother or sister in Christ, finically? Remember, God is trying to help a financial, burdened brother through you. The Lord Provides Needs By Laboring Christians The Lord Provides Needs By Loving Christians 3. The Lord Provides Needs By Luckless Circumstances I want you to notice the phrase I used, Luckless Circumstances You see, if you are a Christian, it is not luck when God takes care of a need in your life, it is the providential hand of God. Yes, we are to work, if we are able. Yes, we are to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, when God lays it on our heart to help a brother finically. However, there are times when God supernaturally takes care of our needs. There are times, when know one knows about your need, and out of the blues, your needs are met. That is our God who is able to work in the supernatural. Yes, we have a God who is able to take care of our needs. Paul Commences By Talking About The Provider Paul Continues By Talking About The Provisions III. Paul Climaxes By Talking About The Plenty 5
A. The Way That Is Never Depleted From The Resource V.19- But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Notice what Paul didn t say - Paul didn t say that God would take care of your need out of His riches, but according to His riches. You see, if God took care of your need out of His riches, His riches would eventually be depleted. Give Illustration Friend, I want you to know that Heaven will never go bankrupt, there will always be sufficient resources to take care of all of God s children when they have needs. Not Only Do We Want To Notice The Way That Is Never Depleted From The Resource, But B. The Worry That Isn t Necessary FROM The Result Reference verse Matthew 6:25,31,33 Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? V.31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink?,or Wherewithal shall we be clothed? V.33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these tings shall be added unto you. To sum it up, God will take care of our needs, if we put Him first in our life. We have talked about the different means that God uses. The point is, God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory. His riches will never be depleted, so stop worrying, and start trusting your Heavenly Father. Conclusion: See next page > 6
1. In closing, how should we respond to this promise made by our Lord about providing our needs? 2. There are two responses that should come from his people whom he has provided for. One is praise, and one is thanksgiving. 3. In Luke 17: 11-19 we find the Lord healing ten lepers. Only one returned and gave thanks. Listen to the Lord-V.17- And Jesus answering said, were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 4. Question? Is that what the Lord is asking about us? Where are they, after I took care of their needs? Wouldn t you like to thank Him today? 7