We read in 2 Corinthians 9:8, “Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work.” (ISV)
Sometimes when we read this verse, and compare it with our situations in life we get perplexed as to why the promises of God, and the experiences we go through seem to be at variance. Let’s be reminded that God has given us these verses to encourage us, and bring us to the place that He wants us to come to. God’s word should build us, and take us to the place that God wants us to be in. God’s word will not return back void, because it is Spirit and it gives life. The purpose for which God’s word is sent will be fulfilled because it has the power and strength to do so.
God will supply all our need according to His riches
Only God’s word can turn a desert into a bountiful land. This is why the word of God is compared to a seed, and if the seed falls on good ground it will bring forth plentiful harvest. If our hearts are that good soil, God’s word will transform our lives to become a great blessing.
When Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, this is what he said as we read in, Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (KJV)
I would like to read this verse in four parts; ‘My God’, ‘Shall supply all your need’, ‘According to His riches’, ‘In Christ Jesus’.
The people in the church at Philippi were in want, and Paul encourages them that God would supply all of their needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.
If we study the letters that Paul wrote there are 13 of them which are recorded as books in the New Testament. The reason for these letters was that wherever Paul went, he shared the gospel and established churches. After he got back to his own place, Paul would constantly enquire about the welfare of the churches that he established. This was Paul’s heart, and he would receive several messages about the respective churches. So, sometimes Paul would rebuke the church he wrote to. For instance he referred to the Galatian church as ‘foolish Galatians.’ Oftentimes Paul would write to encourage the churches, but he also wrote to admonish them and the believers in these churches took Paul’s rebuke well.
We too should have a heart to let God’s word correct us and teach us so that we can change in those areas that God wants us to change.
However, to the church at Philippi, Paul wrote to thank them for their support for the ministry.
The church at Philippi partnered with Paul
If we read in Philippians 4:15, “My friends at Philippi, you remember what it was like when I started preaching the good news in Macedonia. After I left there, you were the only church that became my partner by giving blessings and by receiving them in return.” (CEV)
The church at Philippi were those who stood by Paul, and partnered with him consistently. They took God’s work seriously, gave generously, and also received the blessings in turn. Only the church at Philippi understood the heart of Paul, and carried the same burden that he had for the souls that were lost. No wonder then that they partnered with him in every way.
Often when we come to God we do so with expectation as to all that we can receive from God. We forget that the heart that expects to receive from God must also be a heart that constantly desires to do something for God. In these last days it is sad that many believers who have the anointing and the gifts of the Holy Spirit evident in their lives are content with just spending an hour at church on Sundays. If this is so there is nothing we can do for the Lord. We have almost come to the end of the year, and the question we need to ask is, ‘how many people have we shared the gospel with and how many have we led to the Lord?’ Do we have the burden for those who are lost? These are days when we have to stop and ponder about these important questions. There is a widespread notion that this work of evangelism is the responsibility of Pastors, and other Christian workers while other believers continue with their own personal matters.
Let’s not come to church as mere spectators, but we have to become those who will know and understand God’s purpose and fulfill it.
At one point Paul was imprisoned in Roman prison, and Satan thought he was done with Paul so that the gospel would go nowhere. What happened was the opposite, because God’s word spread all throughout Rome because of Paul. No one could stop Paul, for even in prison Paul began to write letters to all the churches. God’s plan is unfathomable, because what Satan meant for harm God turned out for good, and the letters of Paul have blessed so many generations after him. Even up until today the epistles of Paul are encouraging us as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
While Paul was in prison, the believers at Philippi were constantly checking on his welfare. Isn’t it strange that many church members will take offense if the Pastor or someone in church does not enquire after their well-being? Sadly, these same people will check on no one to find out how they are keeping.
We read in Philippians 4:18, “I have been paid back everything, and with interest. I am completely satisfied with the gifts that you had Epaphroditus bring me. They are like a sweet-smelling offering or like the right kind of sacrifice that pleases God.” (CEV)
These believers from Philippi sent many gifts to Paul, and notice how Paul said that he was completely satisfied with what he had received from them. Remember that Paul was in prison. Paul was so thankful for all that he received that he wrote back a letter of thanks to the church at Philippi. Note how Paul refers to the gifts as a sweet smelling offering or the right kind of sacrifices offered unto God. The best part of it is that Paul was so content with all that was sent to him. Though the gifts were sent to Paul, he refers to these gifts as being given to God Himself.
How often, we have everything, and we are still not content or satisfied. We have become a people who are so dissatisfied with everything.
God’s generosity far surpasses ours
It is in this background that we now come to Philippians 4:19, “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.” (Amp)
Unless we understand the background in which these words were spoken, Philippians 4:19 will make no difference to our lives. The amplified version reminds us that we can be sure that God will take care of everything we need if only we can stand hand-in-hand with Him in building His kingdom.
The church at Philippi were unlike other churches. They gave generously, and therefore Paul reminded them that God’s generosity was far above their own generosity. We can never compare our generosity with God’s because it is incomparable. Also know that God will be indebted to no man.
The wedding at Cana
We read in John 2:1-2, “On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.” (ESV)
When we organize a wedding we will take great care to see that there is more than enough food for everyone who is invited. I am certain that this would have been the case at the wedding at Cana too. This wedding was special because Jesus and His disciples were also invited to the wedding. There is a lack of wine at the wedding, and this matter is brought up to Jesus.
I am sharing this incident to remind us that any day God’s generosity far outweighs ours.
When Mary the mother of Jesus brought this matter up to Jesus, He asked her what this had to with Him. Nonetheless, Mary told the men to do whatever Jesus asked them to do.
We read in John 2:6-7, Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. (ESV)
By turning all of this water into wine Jesus did a mighty miracle, and gave them an abundance of what was lacking. We read that Jesus manifested His glory at that wedding, and His disciples believed in Him.
Here’s an important point that the Lord is glorified through the blessings that He showers on us.
May our hands always be involved in the things that pertain to God and His kingdom. Only in doing so will we experience God’s bountiful blessings, and His guidance in our lives.
Every year passes by without any change, and we are missing many opportunities to lead people into God’s kingdom. There are so many ways to share the gospel with others. We can give out a tract or give someone a bible or share the gospel with someone who does not know Christ.
Satan blinds us with dissatisfaction and creates within us a craving for more and more worldly things, instead of winning precious souls for the Lord. Remember that when we stand before the Lord and His coming is close at hand, He will not want to know about our worldly accomplishments, but will certainly ask us to give account of what we have invested for eternity. It is true that we are living in this world, and must take care of our needs for the here and now, but the more important question is, ‘What are we doing for the Lord and for eternity?.’
Think about the time and energy we are wasting on so many unnecessary things, and on unwanted talk with others. However, when it comes to doing things for the Lord we offhandedly say that we do not know how to do it. There are many who have been believers for many years who don’t know how to pray or to share the gospel with others. Some other keep talking about what they did in years gone by.
Let us decide to be like the believers in the church at Philippi. May we extend our hands to support the work of the extension of God’s Kingdom. When we do what we are supposed to do for the Lord, only then will the Lord do all that is needful for us. If we continue to keep running only for ourselves and our selfish desires, coming to God as though he were an ATM machine only for our needs to be met, we will have wasted our lives having done nothing for the Lord. Our needs will never end and will always be there as long as we live in this world. A person may have all the money in the world, but may not have peace and love.
Only the things that we do for the Lord, and invest for the Kingdom of God will last for eternity. If we want Philippians 4:19 to be accomplished in our lives we have to do what the believers in Philippi did for the extension of God’s kingdom. Let us surrender our lives to the Lord, and may we ask God to make us those instruments who will take the gospel of the Lord Jesus to those who we come in contact with. We have the responsibility to reach our neighbors, the ones we work with and our friends.
Every single day we must make a decision to do something for the Lord, and at the end of the day we must examine ourselves to see if we accomplished it. If we don’t do this our days and years will pass by and we will only have regret at the end of our lives.
Let me conclude is we want Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (KJV) to be a reality in our lives we have to follow the example of the church of Philippi as we read in Philippians 4:18, “I have been paid back everything, and with interest. I am completely satisfied with the gifts that you had Epaphroditus bring me. They are like a sweet-smelling offering or like the right kind of sacrifice that pleases God.” (CEV)
The more we involve ourselves in things pertaining to God, and the extension of His Kingdom will we experience that God will surely supply and take care of all our needs. When we get fully engaged in God’s work, and have His kingdom as our priority, there will be no need for us to pray for any of our needs. Know that God’s generosity far supersedes ours, and we can never out give God.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
