THERE WAS A PLANK
Title is based on a section from the book “Hinds’ Feet On High Places” by Hannah Hurnard
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 4:10 - 19
*Phil. 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
INTRODUCTION:
A promise given to the Philippian church by Paul under divine inspiration of God.
I. A PROMISE WITH RESTRICTIONS
A. According to
1. Your Need Define (Webster’s)
Need --> A state that requires supply or relief; urgent want; necessity; poverty.
The promise is to supply all your need; but it is all your need - in this, the promise is both broad and yet restricted (David Guzik).
I Timothy 6:6-11
6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
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.
6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
2. His Supply
Supply --> To furnish; to provide; to satisfy
a. (v. 19) “according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”
b. Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”
B. According to your surrender
1. Phil. 4:16 “For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.”
2. However, notice that this promise is made to the Philippians - those who had surrendered their finances and material possessions to God's service, and who knew how to give with the right kind of heart (David Guzik).
I feel that this is a conditional promise to those who have fulfilled their responsibilities to God and are walking in the will of God as best they know it. This is not to haphazard Christians living in and out of the will of God.
C. The Reaping and Sowing Principle
1. This promise simply expresses what Jesus said in Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (David Guzik).
2. Communicating Philippians 4:10 -15
(v. 14) “ye did communicate with my affliction” --that is, ye made yourselves sharers with me in my present affliction, namely, by sympathy; of which sympathy your contribution is the proof. (JFB)
Communication 4790 sugkoinoneo {soong-koy-no-neh'-o} from 4862 and 2841; TDNT - 3:797,447; v
AV - have fellowship with 1, communicate with 1, be partaker of 1; 3
1) to become a partaker together with others, or to have fellowship with a thing
II. Book “Hinds’ Feet On High Places” by Hannah Hurnard
A. Based on Habakkuk 3:16-19
3:16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no
herd in the stalls:
3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
3:19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
B. Illustrates our dependence on God. “I can do all things through Christ”
1. In the midst of barrenness and famine the prophet says, “I will rejoice.”
2. Hind -->a doe or female deer -->Leaping and bounding across almost any obstacle.
3. The prophet had forseen the prevalence of the church’s enemies and long continuance of the churches troubles. Seeing war and famine, he trusts in God. M. H.
4. When all is gone his God is not gone. M. H.
5. This book is based on a deep surrender to God and his way of perfecting the Christians and providing for them as they walk in His will.
C. An Allegory
1. A speech or discourse which conveys a meaning different from the literal one in order to illustrate and help us better understand the literal one.
I want to use a segment of the story to illustrate and help us see that God makes a way.
2. Characters
a. Much-Afraid --> female Christian on her journey to a deep surrender which will led to high places. Much-Afraid symbolizes our weaknesses as human.
b. Shepherd --> A male, like a knight in shining armor coming to the rescue. Symbolizes Christ the Good Shepherd.
c. Craven Fear --> Much-Afraid’s cousin whom she has ran away from. They had tried to force her to marry him. Symbolizing the enemy fear tormenting Much-Afraid. Craven --> A coward, weak-hearted, spiritless fellow.
d. Two Companions --> Sorrow and Suffering helping her on her journey.
3. Much-Afraid’s Experiences
Much-Afraid has been through a Flight in the Night, an Encounter with Pride, a Detour Through the Desert, on the Shores of Loneliness, and on the Old Sea Wall. D. We join her at the Great Precipice Injury.
1. Precipice --> a steep overhanging cliff
“If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably does not lead anywhere.”
2. Read pg 119 to 123, then 124, then 126 -127, 131 (bottom), 132-135 >
E. There Was A Plank
Give personal testimony: Car parts --> Distributor, Fuel Pump, Transmission --> Big Obstacles to me.
Things were getting difficult --> Pat prayed and said God revealed to her that things would get better.
JTPA --> $10 a day
Food Stamps --> $200
Moved to a larger apartment at Triplett View Housing Authority
Home --> used carpet given to us
Reduction of rent to $15
Awarded Teacher Scholarship
Needed to move furniture to Triplett View --> Clifford helped us move; it rained during our trip
Friend acquired a mattress set for us
III. REMEMBER YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH GOD.
A. How many times has he laid a plank across the gap to get you to the other side? Why not trust God for another plank when confronted with another impassable place? If it takes it, God will fall every tree in a Giant Redwood forest to get you across. But remember, the faith that moves a mountain, carries a pick.
B. I’m not telling you that everything will just be laid at your feet. You may not, as the Saviour, have a place to lay your head, but God will provide what it takes to get you through.
1. When another’s path seems less difficult, or their blessings more abundant, remember: “God has an individual path for you.” Your path will have different experiences, opportunities, sacrifices and rewards.
Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Psalms 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
“God Will Make This Trial A Blessing”
Psalms 34:15 “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”
God is Faithful ---> I Thes. 5:24 “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.”
When once the promise therefore is made, performance is sure and certain. M. H.
God didn’t call you to a rose garden, but to the Garden of Gethsemane. The Garden of Gethsemane is where you surrender your will and accept His plan for your life. Your can endure mocking, spitting, shame and bear your cross after you have surrendered you will. You can trudge up your mountains as your enemies mock you and be crucified with Christ, if you first surrender your will. If you will lay aside your desires and accept His and get on God’s path, you can expect at every impassable place, There Will Be A Plank.
Exodus 14:10 - 31 (READ)
Psalms 107:7 “He lead them forth by the right way that they might go to a city of habitation.”
Exodus 14:10 They were sore afraid.
“And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.”
Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man bringeth in a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.”
3020 Needless Fear
Matt. 14:29-31 Mark 5:30-34
Cried unto the Lord --> Ashamed sometimes because of weaknesses and failures.
I Chron 5:20 for they cried in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him
v. 11 Cowardice 853 1019 Encouragement
v. 13 1020 Fear Not 3116 Salvation of God
V. 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
In times of great difficulty and great expectation, it is our wisdom to keep our spirits calm and quiet; for then we are in the best frame both to do our own work and to consider the work of God. M. H.
Joshua 3:14-17
The God of nature can, when he pleases, change the course of nature, and alter its properties, can turn fluids into solids, water into standing rocks, as on the contrary, rocks into standing waters, to serve His own purposes. M. H.
Israelites were doomed and then delivered --> Shouting and dancing on the other side.
1. Great changes may come suddenly
Examples
Paul and Silas in Jail Acts 16:19-30 *v. 26
Peter in Prison Acts 12:1-10 --> angel appeared
Paul on the Road to Damascus Acts 9
Arrival of the Holy Ghost Acts 2:2
2. Opportunities may quickly vanish --> What good we have opportunity of doing, we should do quickly.
The reason a lot of people cannot find opportunity is that opportunity often goes around disguised as hard work.
“Remember that faith that moves mountains always carries a pick.”
3. Self-confidence leads to ruin
4. The Salvation of the believer is certain
5. Salvation is of the Lord
Exodus 15 --> 3 Thine’s; 10 Thou’s; 11 Thy’s; but no Me’s
Many have feared:
Elijah sat down and wished to die.
Peter denied Christ.
Thomas failed to believe that Christ had risen and visited the apostles.
Abraham lied about Sarah not being his wife.
But later:
Elijah went on
Peter preached and lead thousands to Christ and is responsible for a part of the New Testament.
Thomas believed and later gave his life for Christ.
Abraham was called the Friend of God and the Father of the nation Israel.
Much-Afraid goes on to be transformed to Grace and Glory. Her companions are changed from Sorrow into Joy, from Suffering into Peace.
YOU CAN GO ON TO AND EXPERIENCE THE PROVIDENCE AND TRANSFORMING POWER OF GOD. THERE IS A PLANK!!!!!!!
