DEALING WITH GOD’S GREAT BANK OF PROMISE Philippians 4:14-23
Proposition: As God’s children we can draw on God’s great bank of promise in meeting our every need.
Objective: My purpose is to challenge God’s people to learn to let God meet their basic needs through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in a greater way.
INTRODUCTION:
Illus: What are your greatest needs and wants?
Illus: A study showed that at the beginning of the 20th Century, the average American wanted 72 different things and considered 18 of them necessary. Then in the 1950s the average American had 496 wants and felt 96 of them were necessary. Today I believe this would be higher than that.
A story is told by F.B. Meyer of an old and poverty-stricken Indian, who many years ago made his way into a Western settlement in search of food to keep him from starving. A bright-colored ribbon was seen around his neck, from which there hung a small, dirty pouch. On being asked what it was, he said it was a charm given him in his younger days. He opened it, and took out a worn and crumpled paper, which he handed to the person making the inspection. It proved, on examination, to be a regular discharge from the federal army, signed by George Washington himself, and entitling him to a pension for life. Here was a man with a promise duly signed, which if presented in the right place would have secured him ample provision, yet he was wandering about hungry, helpless, and forlorn, and begging bread to keep him from starving. What a picture of many Christians who are in need of everything when they might be rich and full! Perhaps their own life had not been generous, certainly their faith has never put in its claim to God’s great bank of promise.
Paul had few wants and had learned that Christ had met his needs. The letter to the Philippians is characterized by a deep intimacy in the relationship between Paul and the Philippians. Early in the letter we read that both the recipients, the church in Philippi, and the senders, Paul and his friends in Rome, recognized that they were bound together in their commitment to the gospel. Paul says, "I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partakers of grace with me" (Phil. 1:7).
Here is Paul’s thankfulness to the Philippians as he expresses his appre-
ciation for their gift they sent to him while he is in prison. Paul is saying, "It is not that I desire a present from you for my own sake, although your gift touches my heart and makes me very glad. I don’t need anything, for I have more than enough. But I am glad that you gave me a gift for your own sake, for your kindness will stand greatly to your credit in the sight of God." Someone has called v.19 a note drawn upon the bank of faith. God is the apostle’s banker—so he says, “My need you supply. Your need my God will supply.”
I. THE SUPPORT (vvs. 14-16) “You have done well”-- The generosity of the Philippian Church to Paul went back a long way. In Acts 16-17 we read how he preached the Gospel in Philippi and then moved on to Thessalonica and Berea. As far back as that, the Philippian Church had given practical proof of its love for him.
1. The anguish (v. 14) “You shared in my distress”-- Paul says, "You did beautifully. You did a good thing because you became partners with me in the ministry of the Gospel. You gave of your possessions and so we became partners in this enterprise." In view of Paul’s attitude the Philippians might have wondered if they should have bothered to send him the gift. Paul hastened to add that it was good of them to send it. "We know that God loves a cheerful giver, but I believe we also need to stress that God loves a cheerful receiver. Cheerful receivers make giving and receiving a joy. The art of being a gracious, cheerful, thankful receiver may be even more difficult than being a cheerful giver."
2. The action (v. 15) “No one shared with me…but you only”-- In the very beginning of their Christian experience (Acts 16) when Paul left Macedonia, they alone shared with him in the matter of giving and receiving. The church gave mater-ially to Paul and received spiritually from the Lord. All Paul knew was that he had been forgotten now that he was in prison, but the Lord had not forgotten him for which he was also grateful in how the Philippians had remembered him.
3. The assistance (v. 16) “You sent aid once and again”—
They spent more than once to meet his need in Thessalonica (about a hundred miles from Philippi) at a time when the Philippian church could hardly have been more than a few weeks old (Acts 17:2).
Illus: You and I could pray like the Puritan. He sat down to a
meal of bread and water. He bowed his head and declared, “All this and Jesus too?”
Paul knew Jesus and was thankful for his support by the church at Philippi.
II. THE SUPPLY (vvs. 17-18) “I am full and abound”—Paul says, “I have enough. You have now sent me so much by Epaphroditus that I abound in all the necessities of life.” This is a strong expression, denoting that nothing was lacking.
1. The advantage (v. 17) “I seek the fruit that abounds to your
account”-- "Seek" is a restless hunting for something. Paul appreciates them, but he is not asking for their money. Paul says: "What makes me happiest is the well-earned reward you will have." This will be the eternal interest they will receive on their gifts. He referred to their bank account in heaven, not his bank account down here. This is exactly what happens when money is given to the Lord. It is all recorded in the account books and will be repaid a hundredfold in a coming day.
2. The abundance (v. 18a) “I am full, having received…the
things sent from you”—Paul is saying, “And now I have it all--and keep getting more!” Hudson Taylor once said, “God’s work carried on in God’s way will never lack God’s resources.” The trouble today is that we have failed to distinguish between working for God and the work of God. Where there is an abundance of money, there is always the greatest danger of embarking on ventures which might not have the divine sanction. To quote Hudson Taylor once again: “What we greatly need to fear is not insufficient funds, but too much unconsecrated funds.”
3. The approval (v. 18b) “A sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable
sacrifice and well pleasing to God”-- The priest would bring a sacrifice to the altar and present it to God. When the aroma of the sacrifice made its way to heaven, then the priest would turn to people and reveal to them that the sacrifice was acceptable to God. He would say, "God is happy with what you brought." Paul credits the givers with the proper spirit, that is, the attitude of faith, love and gratitude. The incense offered in the temple worship was very fragrant. Their offerings were like incense, like a sacrifice with which God was well pleased. Paul dignifies the sacrificial giving of the Philippians by describing what it meant to God. It ascended as a fragrant sacrifice to Him. It was both acceptable and well pleasing.
Illus: Maxey Jarman of Nashville, Tennessee, who died at the age of seventy-six, was an internationally known Christian businessman. He took a company from seventy-five employees to 75,000 employees. His company, GENESCO, in the late 1960’s was the world’s largest apparel company. During his heyday, Maxey Jarman gave away millions. He built churches around the world and gave generously to all kinds of Christian causes. Then, he experienced financial reverses. He lost his company and most of his personal fortune. During the darkest days of his financial crunch, he was asked by a personal friend if he ever thought of the millions he had given away over the years. Jarman answered, “Of course I have. But remember, I didn’t lose a penny I gave away. I only lost what I kept.” We learn this: What we give, we keep. What we let go of we hold on onto. When we are willing to empty ourselves we become full. You see no gift that we make to God ever leaves us poorer for it makes available to us the gifts and the riches of God. The act of giving forces us to trust God. It deepens our relationship with Him so we are blest in the act.
Illus: Socrates often walked in the busy market-place of Athens & would ask people both buyers & sellers, “Can you tell me where those things can be bought that are really necessary to life?” Paul would say that this could be done in Jesus Christ.
III. THE SUFFICIENCY (v. 19) “My God shall supply all your need”—We have a need for guidance, need for assurance, need for help in temptation, need for forgiveness, need for daily bread, etc. Other needs are: a need for a sense of belonging--an awareness of being wanted, cared for, and accepted; a sense of worthiness -- "a sense of feeling good about yourself ... everybody needs a sense of worthiness; and a sense of competence -- "I can; I’m capable."
1. Personal relationship “My God”-- Touching is the ex-pression "my God" (1:3). Paul states that God is the Provider. The apostle said that the Lord is "my God." When Paul received the Lord Jesus on his way to Damascus, he was brought immediately into a personal relationship with God. Many persons that believe God is all-powerful--that He has an ability that knows no inability--but they know nothing of a personal, intimate relationship with Him. Many people know about God, but they do not know Him. Paul knew Him as the Provider of all his needs. It is through personal faith in Christ that we gain that experiential knowledge of God. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). Paul knew that his God was rich in glory and would allow nothing to happen that would diminish His glory.
2. Proper resources “shall supply all your need”-- Out of His unfailing treasury He would supply their need. The Philippians had a double guarantee: the guarantee of God’s character and the guarantee of God’s Son. God will not supply every wish, but every need, not every greed. The apostle summed it up in three words, "all your need." Not some of your need, not much of your need, nor most of your need, but all of your need. That is bountiful provision! God can meet the many and varied needs of His children because of His infinite and inestimable riches.
The Psalmist linked man and God’s riches together when he wrote, "The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they who dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1).
Illus: “God can’t meet your need until you feel your need.”
Illus: “God’s work, done in God’s way, will receive God’s supply.”
3. Precise reward “To His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”-- Our great Provider created and controls all of the provision. How vast is the wealth of God? How rich is the Provider? I doubt that we will ever fully know in this life the extent of God’s riches. He said to His people Israel, " I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. (Isaiah 45:3). What an amazing provision! God has promised to supply our need according to His riches. This tells us that we cannot have a need too great for God to supply. God’s unlimited supply and His unfailing word should satisfy our minds now and for all of time.
Illus: At 15 years of age, Arnold Schwarzenegger decided he wanted to be the best body builder in the world. And when he saw a massive bodybuilder named Reg Park in a movie, he knew he had found his hero. In Schwarzenegger’s own words, "From that point on I was utterly dominated by Reg Park. His image was my ideal. I found out everything I could about Reg Park. I bought all the magazines that pub-lished his programs. I learned how he started training, what he ate, how he lived, and how he did his workouts. I became obsessed with Reg Park; he was the image in front of me from the time I started training…. I pasted his pictures on all the walls of my bedroom. … I studied every photograph of him I could get my hands on – noting the size of his chest, arms, thighs, back and abdominals. This inspired me to work even harder. When I felt my lungs burning as though they would burst and my veins bulging with blood, I loved it. I knew then that I was growing, making one more step toward becoming like Reg Park.."
IV. THE SATISFACTION (vvs. 20-23) “According to His riches in
glory”-- As he closes his letter, Paul again affirms: the centrality of Jesus Christ as the source of every blessing and benefit from God and God’s commitment to meet the needs of those who give sacrificially to meet the needs of others.
1. The gratitude (v. 20) “Now to our God and Father be glory
forever and ever”—His gratitude overflows. Thinking of God’s abundant provision causes the apostle to break out into praise. God is the Source of all good things. It was the love of God which was expressed in the Philip- pians’ gift. The last word, therefore, is one of eternal praise to God. To this God who in His Son is the Father of all believers Paul ascribes adoration. Our resources are the providence of God, the power of God and the promises of God.
2. The greeting (vvs. 21-22) “Greet every saint…All the saints greet you”-- Christianity has begun to undermine the throne of the Caesars. Some day a Christian will sit on this throne. The Gospel works upward from the lower classes. lt was so at Corinth and in Rome. It is true today. It is doubtful if Nero had yet heard of Paul for his case may have been dismissed by lapse of time. But this obscure prisoner who has planted the Gospel in Caesar’s household has won more eternal fame and power than all the Caesars combined. Nero will commit suicide shortly after Paul has been executed. Nero’s star went down and Paul’s rose and rises still.
3. The grace (v. 23) “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you”--The letter begins with grace & ends with grace. It begins with the Lord Jesus Christ & ends with the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the theme of the letter from beginning to end--His name occurs more than 40 times, an average of once in every 2 or 3 verses. Christianity is after all about Christ. Christ had captured Paul’s heart years ago on the Damascus road & had reigned there ever since. Paul had said, "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (1:21) & his parting words are "The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all." And all we can say is to echo his "Amen."
CONCLUSION:
1. It is possible to find an inner contentment even in the midst of adverse circumstances. Paul knew this, “I have learned in whatever state I am to be content.”
2. This can be ours if we avail ourselves of the riches of God’s glory in Christ. This can be found in God’s great bank of promise. God’s Word promises riches that money cannot buy. These are the heavenly treasures.
3. Christ is the ground and channel of divine supplies. He can meet my need. Our prayer and God’s supply are like two buckets in a well; while one ascends, the other descends! Nothing is too great for God to accomplish, nothing too small for His attention.
Illus: While working as a journalist for the Chicago Tribune, Lee Strobel
was assigned to report on the struggles of an impoverished, inner-city family during the weeks leading up to Christmas. A devout atheist at the time, Strobel was mildly surprised by the family’s attitude in spite of their circumstances: The Delgados—60-year-old Perfecta & her granddaughters, Lydia and Jenny—had been burned out of their roach-infested tenement & were now living in a tiny, 2-room apartment on the West Side. As I walked in, I couldn’t believe how empty it was. There was no fur-niture, no rugs, nothing on the walls—only a small kitchen table & 1 handful of rice. That’s it. They were virtually devoid of possessions. In fact, 11-year-old Lydia & 13-year-old Jenny owned only 1 short-sleeved dress each, plus 1 thin, gray sweater between them. When they walked the half-mile to school through the biting cold, Lydia would wear the sweater for part of the distance & then hand it to her shivering sister, who would wear it the rest of the way. But despite their poverty & the painful arthritis that kept Perfecta from working, she still talked confidently about her faith in Jesus. She was convinced he had not abandoned them. I never sensed despair or self-pity in her home; instead, there was a gentle feeling of hope and peace. Strobel completed his article, then moved on to more high-profile assignments. But when Christmas Eve arrived, he found his thoughts drifting back to the Delgados & their unflinching belief in God’s providence. In his words: "I continued to wrestle with the irony of the situation. Here was a family that had nothing but faith, & yet seemed happy, while I had everything I needed materially, but lacked faith—& inside I felt as empty & barren as their apartment." In the middle of a slow news day, Strobel decided to pay a visit to the Delgados. When he arrived, he was amazed at what he saw. Readers of his article had responded to the family’s need in overwhelming fashion, filling the small apartment with donations. Once inside, Strobel encountered new furniture, appliances & rugs; a large Christmas tree & stacks of wrapped presents; bags of food; & a large selection of warm winter clothing. Readers had even donated a generous amount of cash. But it wasn’t the gifts that shocked Lee Strobel. It was the family’s response to those gifts. In his words: As surprised as I was by this outpouring, I was even more astonished by what my visit was interrupting: Perfecta & her granddaughters were getting ready to give away much of their newfound wealth. When I asked Perfecta why, she replied in halting English: "Our neighbors are still in need. We cannot have plenty while they have nothing. This is what Jesus would want us to do." That blew me away! If I had been in their position at that time in my life, I would have been hoarding everything. I asked Perfecta what she thought about the generosity of the people who had sent all of these goodies, & again her response amazed me. "This is wonderful; this is very good," she said, gesturing toward it. "We did nothing to deserve this—it’s a gift from God. But," she added, "It is not his greatest gift. No, we celebrate that tomorrow. That is Jesus." To her, this Child in the manger was the undeserved gift that meant everything—more than material pos-sessions, more than comfort, more than security. And at that moment, something inside of me wanted desperately to know this Jesus—because I saw him in Perfecta & her granddaughters. They had peace despite poverty, while I had anxiety despite plenty; they knew the joy of generosity, while I only knew the loneliness of ambition; they looked heavenward for hope, while I only looked out for myself; they experienced the wonder of the spiritual, while I was shackled to the shallowness of the material—and something made me long for what they had. Or, more accurately, for the One they knew.
Prepared by: Gerald R. Steffy
6206 N. Hamilton Rd., Peoria, IL 61614
E-Mail: grsteffy@yahoo.com to receive
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