Philippians 4:19: "But my God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Most of us have read and heard this verse quoted many times. It is a great promise to believers who are struggling with their circumstances. But have you ever stopped to ask why? Why would God supply all our need? Or what about this question; why, as believers, do we have needs? Why does God allow them to come into our lives?
God allows needs in our lives to drive us to Him. So we will ask for His help to take care of the matter. He always does take care of our needs and through the process of time we often learn more about the purposes of God allowing those needs to come into our lives.
I. It is essential for our encouragement.
A. To Believe His Promises.
1. The Bible is filled with His promises.
2. If I read about God's promises and kept on praying over a long period of time and asking him to meet my needs.
3. And nothing ever changed and my needs were never met…
4. I would get very discouraged and would begin to wonder if God cared at all.
B. But that is impossible.
1. Such a thing is not possible because God does care.
(Heb 4:15) "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
(1 Pet 5:7) "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
2. So what happens to us when God comes thru?
3. We are greatly encouraged.
4. It is essential for our encouragement that God meets our needs.
5. Every time he does we become a little bit stronger the next time around.
II. It is essential for our development.
A. An Amazing Process
1. God creates needs in our lives as individuals and collectively as a church family so that we may develop in faith and character.
2. The Bible discusses this process in 1st Peter.
(1 Pet 1:7) "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"
B. The Development of Character
1. Sometimes our needs are so great and having them met is so critical…
2. That time frame between the two extremes seems like an eternity.
3. It is during this time of waiting for the need to be met that we get better acquainted with God.
4. The example of physical illness.
a. How many of us have been stricken with some physical need and been laid-up for an extended time?
b. We soon discover that the sick bed becomes a school house and the Lord Himself is our teacher.
c. God teaches us some wonderful lessons.
d. When the experience is over, we can say with the Psalmist in Psalms 119:71.
(Psa 119:71) "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."
III. It is essential for our confidence in the character of God.
A. God is the great Provider
1. No matter what the need is, the need is not greater than God.
2. God can and will meet the need, but note the pronoun "my."
3. It is "my God" who shall provide for the needs.
4. A person has to make sure... that the God who can really provide for needs is his God.
5. That he knows God personally??well enough that he can trust and depend upon God to meet his need.
B. There is great assurance of provision.
1. Note: "my God shall supply ."
2. There is no question about the provision being supplied.
3. God is God; therefore, He is able to provide and He will supply whatever provision His dear child needs.
C. There is the great provision.
1. Note: "all your needs."
2. This promise does not refer only to the physical needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
3. It refers to mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
4. It refers to any need that arises, engulfs, or confronts the believer.
5. No need will be omitted or overlooked.
6. No need is too big or too little.
7. No need is unimportant??not to God, not if His dear child is really experiencing the need.
D. There may be a lesson for the believer to learn before the need can be met.
1. Some lesson such as more trust, endurance, love, joy, peace, gentleness, meekness, or control.
2. There may be some testimony that the believer needs to share as to the strength of Christ which carries us through trials.
3. But no matter what the trial or need is, God will supply all our needs.
E. There is the great resource.
1. Note: "according to His riches in glory."
2. Take all the riches and wealth, glory and majesty of heaven??it is all available to meet the needs of God's dear people.
3. There is no limit??not even a fraction??to the great resources at God's disposal.
4. God can provide for any need.
F. There is the great Mediator.
1. Note: "By Christ Jesus."
2. This is critical to note, for God does nothing apart from Christ.
3. No person can approach God without coming to Him through Christ Jesus.
4. This is the key to having our needs met: surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ, and asking God to meet our needs in Him.
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Cor.9:8).
Why does God meet our needs?
What are our needs tonight? God desires to meet them. To offer us encouragement, to further our development, and to give us confidence in His character.