THE WONDERFUL PROVISION OF GOD PHILIPPIANS 4:19 INTRO: The word wonderful means of a nature to excite wonder; marvelous. (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary. Volume 2, N-Z. p. 789). Friends, that describes the way in which our loving heavenly Father cares for us and provides for our needs. The Bible tells us that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think... (Ephesians 3:20). I rejoice in the fact that Nothing is too big for my God to accomplish, and nothing is too little for him to use in accomplishing it. (The Complete Book of Zingers. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). In our text, Paul wrote-- But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Our word supply is translated from a Greek word which means to make replete, to cram, level up, to furnish, to satisfy. What a WONDERFUL promise! The Bible is literally filled with accounts of God's miraculous provision for His people. There is no human need that God is unable to meet in fact, he meets the needs far better than anything on this earth...not only would God supply all their needs, but he would do it according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (or "his glorious riches"). Believers cannot begin to comprehend God's riches in glory his riches are limitless, infinite...it is from that storehouse that believers' needs are met. (Life Application Bible Commentary: Philippians. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). Friends, We may face situations beyond our reserves but never beyond God's resources. (The Complete Book of Zingers. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). Our God will always provide for ALL OUR NEEDS wonderfully. Psalm 84:11-- For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Charles Spurgeon said, God has all good, there is no good apart from him, and there is no good which he either needs to keep back or will on any account refuse us, if we are but ready to receive it. (Charles H. Spurgeon. The Treasury of David. e-sword. Version 9.7.2. Copyright 2000-2010. Rick Meyers. All Rights Reserved Worldwide). This morning I want us to see some of the wonderful provisions that God has provided for us. He has provided... (1) HIS SALVATION TO SAVE US TITUS 2:11-- For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. A. GRACE TO ATONE. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation.... Grace provided for us what we could not provide for ourselves. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us-- For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Christ's sacrifice was exactly what God desired and we required. 1 Corinthians 6:11 assures every believer that by GRACE...ye are washed...ye are sanctified...ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
ILLUS: That word "justifieth" seems too good to be true. No wonder that Martin Luther shook all Germany when that truth dawned upon him, "the just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11) Do you know what "justified" means? I will tell you. It is to stand before God without spot or wrinkle, without a sin. It is to be put back beyond Eden. God looks over his ledger, and says: "Moody, I have no account against you. Your debt has all been wiped out by my Son Jesus Christ." Dwight L. Moody (Dr. Paul Lee Tan. Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). B. GRACE FOR ALL. the grace of God...hath appeared to all men. 1 John 2: 2 tells us-- And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. The word propitiation means the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious to sinners. Christ is the propitiation for the sins of men. (Noah Webster. Webster's 1828 Dictionary. e-sword. Version 9.7.2. Copyright 2000-2010. Rick Meyers. All Rights Reserved Worldwide). The words "but also for the whole world" announce to the world that God has taken care of the sin problem by the propitiation of Jesus Christ. Sin need not be a barrier between God and man, if man will receive the propitiation God has provided in Jesus. (David Guzik. Guzik Commentary. e-sword. Version 9.7.2. Copyright 2000-2010. Rick Meyers. All Rights Reserved Worldwide). ILLUS: God, by his grace, sent Christ to earth; because of Christ's death on the cross, salvation is available to all types of people...god's offer of salvation to all means that salvation has been made available through Christ to everyone, without discrimination. The word "all" here refers to the universal offer, rather than implying that everyone will be saved. (Life Application Bible Commentaryl Titus. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved Worldwide). THE WONDERFUL PROVISION OF GOD has provided HIS SALVATION TO SAVE US but also... (2) HIS SPIRIT TO INDWELL US ACTS 1:8-- But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. A. THE PROMISE GIVEN. The Lord promised before He ascended back to the Father-- But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.... The moment we receive Christ as our Saviour the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our lives. He indwells. He inhabits. Someone said, Unless we have within us that which is above us, we soon shall yield to the pressures around us. (The Complete Book of Zingers. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). This promise is one of POWER. We are given: THE POWER TO SPEAK (PSALM 107:2). THE POWER TO SHINE (MATTHEW 5:16). THE POWER TO SHOW (PHILIPPIANS 2:15-16a). THE POWER TO STAND (GALATIANS 5:1).
B. THE PURPOSE GIVEN. and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Friends, we called by God to witness to a lost world of a Saviour named Jesus who came to save all who will receive HIM through His blood. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20-- And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. Because we are reconciled unto God we now have the privilege of encouraging others to be reconciled to God also. The power to witness comes by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Someone has aptly pointed out, Two things should happen to the Christian something happens in us and something happens through us. The gospel is not something we go to church to hear; it is something we go from the church to tell. (The Complete Book of Zingers. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). But friends, telling does no good if we are not living what we profess. ILLUS: Someone said, The number one cause of atheism is Christians. Those who proclaim God with their mouths and deny Him with their lifestyles, are what an unbelieving world find simply unbelievable. Karl Rahner (Dr. Paul Lee Tan. Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). THE WONDERFUL PROVISION OF GOD has provided HIS SALVATION TO SAVE US, HIS SPIRIT TO INDWELL US, and... (3) HIS SCRIPTURES TO TEACH US 2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17-- But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. A. THE WAY TO GO. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of.... Paul told Timothy to continue. The word means to go on in some action or condition; persist. To persevere or persist in; carry forward. (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary. Volume 1, A-M. p. 138). What was Timothy to continue in? V15 tells us it was the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Someone said, God's Word is like a highway sign. You don't have to pay any attention to it if you don't care what happens to you. (The Complete Book of Zingers. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). Jesus said in John 8:31--...If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. True disciples of the Lord will want to continue in His Word. We abide in Christ
when we place ourselves in him and continue there, drawing life from his words. This produces ongoing discipleship. A true and obedient disciple will find the truth by knowing the one who is the truth, Jesus himself. (Life Application Bible Commentary: John. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). B. THE WISDOM TO GROW. V14 tells us-- And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. The Scriptures provide for us everything we need to follow God's command-- But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.... Someone said, The Holy Scriptures teach us the best way of living, the noblest way of suffering, and the most comfortable way of dying. (The Complete Book of Zingers. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). The best way for us to grow as Christians is for us to eat the Bread of Life. We grow as we search and study the Scriptures. But this is all for naught if we do not apply what we learn to our daily lives! The psalmist wrote-- How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103). ILLUS: To fail to feed upon the honey (Christ in the Word) is not time gained but strength lost, unfitting one for conflicts. (Sermon Illustrations from the Bible. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). THE WONDERFUL PROVISION OF GOD provide us with HIS SALVATION TO SAVE US, HIS SPIRIT TO INDWELL US, HIS SCRIPTURES TO TEACH US, and fourthly... (4) HIS SERVANTS TO ENCOURAGE US 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11-- But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. HIS SERVANTS ENCOURAGE US TO: A. STAY FAITHFUL. We are told-- But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (v8). For the Christian, Life is not all about personal pleasure but about loving and serving God and getting to know him better. (Life Application Bible Commentary: 1 Thessalonians. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). Friends, there is something we need to realize. Every believer is a servant of the Lord, not just ministers. Because of that, we need to encourage one another. We are told in v11-- Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. Note the words edify one another. Our word edify is translated from a Greek word which means to build up, to be a house builder. All of us need encouraging and building up. We need to be there for one another, encouraging one another and building one another up. After we have been encouraged, there will come a time when we need to be an encouragement to someone else. Someone said, A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, but is miles ahead in
results. --Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1001 Quotes, Illustrations, and Humorous Stories. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). B. STAY FOCUSED. As Christians, our hope is secure because GOD IS IN CHARGE. I love the words there-- For God hath not appointed us to wrath.... We read in v8-- But let us, who are of the day, be sober.... According to the dictionary, the word sober means possessing or characterized by properly controlled faculties; well-balanced. (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary. Volume 2, N-Z. p. 638). Because we are the children of the day we are to be sober because God hath not appointed us to wrath. We are to encourage one another in light of the fact that Jesus is coming for us soon to receive us onto Himself. ILLUS: Arno C. Gaebelin wrote: Being the children of the day we must watch and be sober; it is that which distinguishes true Christians from the mass of professing church-members and the world. The world and those who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof, do not watch, nor are they sober; and being sober, walking in separation from the world, its lusts and pleasures, the believer, having on the breastplate of faith and love, can advance against the enemy. He has also for an helmet, to protect him, this promised glorious salvation. Thus we can look always up, without fear, in the midst of danger when the judgment clouds are gathering over this present evil age. "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." Blessed knowledge and twice blessed assurance! that we might be delivered from the wrath to come and share with Him eternal glory. He died for us. 'Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep (as to the body) we should live together with Him.' (Arno C. Gaebelin. Annotated Bible 1919. e-sword. Version 9.7.2. Copyright 2000-2010. Rick Meyers. All Rights Reserved Worldwide). THE WONDERFUL PROVISION OF GOD provided HIS SALVATION TO SAVE US, HIS SPIRIT TO INDWELL US, HIS SCRIPTURES TO TEACH US, HIS SERVANTS TO ENCOURAGE US, and lastly... (5) HIS STRENGTH TO SUSTAIN US ISAIAH 40:29-31-- He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. A. HE CAN KEEP US FROM FAINTING. What a PROMISE! He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. He gives us power! But notice this promise is for those that wait upon the Lord. This is not a passive sitting around but it is seeking Him and relying upon Him and not our own strength. As Galatians 6:9 tells us-- And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. B. HE CAN KEEP US FROM FALLING. I want you to notice what it says in
Isaiah 40:30-- Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But v31 tells us-- But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.... Friends, God keeps us from falling if we wait upon Him! The strength the Lord gives us helps us to move forward and make progress for HIM. This strength is not to make us look good but to bring glory to His holy name! CLOSING: God provides for us wonderfully! Truly the redeemed can say-- But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He has provided HIS SALVATION TO SAVE US, HIS SPIRIT TO INDWELL US, HIS SCRIPTURES TO TEACH US, HIS SERVANTS TO ENCOURAGE US, and HIS STRENGTH TO SUSTAIN US. What a WONDERFUL SAVIOUR we have! PREPARED BY BROTHER BRYAN L. BROWNING, PASTOR OF UNIONTOWN BAPTIST CHURCH, UNIONTOWN, KY FOR SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 6, 2011.