God Will Supply

God Will Supply

Philippians 4:14-23

Good morning.

In 1 Kings 17, there is a narrative about Elijah being hungry and in need, and the Lord instructed ravens to feed him by a brook.

After the brook dried up, the Lord instructed Elijah to go to a widow and ask her for food and drink.

1 Kings 17:12 So she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."

1 Kings 17:13 And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.

1 Kings 17:14 For thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.'"

1 Kings 17:15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah and she and he and her household ate for many days.

1 Kings 17:16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah. NKJV

Times of need can shake our faith, but the empty flour-bin moments within our lives, allow us to see God supplying for our needs in ways we could have never imagined.

Sometimes, times of need teach us to appreciate the Lord’s provision within our lives.

Please open your Bibles to Philippians 4, as we finish the verse-by-verse study of Paul’s Epistle to the Church at Philippi.

Last week, Paul instructed us that a godly focus brings peace. When we live the way Paul instructed his readers to live and follow Paul’s example, we are promised God’s peace.

Then we learned about generosity and contentment.

Paul said that whatever state he was in he had learned how to be content. Contentment is not natural for anyone; it is a spiritual thing we will learn with Christian maturity.

Godly contentment is finding joy in what God has given you and the opposite of contentment is greed, which will destroy your ability to enjoy what God has already given you.

A positive mindset is a choice. “Much of the Christian life comes down to the mind.” (Guzik)

Today, Paul again talks about generosity while affirming the Lord is the One who ultimately supplies for our needs.

I. Sharing in the ministry.

Read Philippians 4:14-16

The Apostle Paul had just finished saying, “Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

Then as Paul learned how to be content in every situation, he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

Here in Philippians 4:, Paul starts with a transition, “Nevertheless”.

Paul used this transition as he continued to express his thankfulness to the Philippians for their giving to his ministry.

Notice that he also thanked them for their willingness to share in his distress (affliction).

The word distress means pressing together, tribulation, or pressure.

Jesus used the same word when He spoke of the last days.

Mark 13:19 For in those days there will be tribulation (affliction), such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.

Ralph Martin said, “The Philippians, then, by their gifts, may have had a greater honor than just the offer of assistance to their apostle”;

“They would be sharing in the apostolic trials which precede and prepare for the end, as by their gifts the gospel is carried to every creature in preparation for that end.” (Ralph Martin)

Ralph Martin was saying that the Gospel being delivered to the world before the End Times happens, is necessary so as many as will receive Christ, then confess Him, before the end happens.

Not everyone can do vocational or missionary ministry, but as the body of Christ, we all have gifts, talents, and a specific part to play, while giving towards the cost of the ministry.

Ray Boltz has a song titled, “Thank You”. Some of the lyrics say, “I dreamed I went to heaven and you were there with me.

We walked upon the streets of gold, beside the crystal sea; we heard the angels singing.

A missionary came to your church and his pictures made you cry, you didn't have much money, but you gave it anyway.