God supplies our needs

Speaker: 
Andrew Fountain
Date: 
Sun, 2018-04-29

Sermon Outline - God supplies our needs

  • Series on Philippians

Goal

That we look to God to abundantly supply our needs

  • Recap Parts 1–7
  • Today’s passage: Phil 4:10–20

Philippians 4:10–20

  1. I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your care for me.
    (You always did, but lacked the opportunity.)
     
  2. I am not saying this out of need,
      I have learned in such circumstances to be content.
  3. So I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.
      In any and all circumstance I have learned the secret
        of being full or hungry, having abundance or not enough.
  4. I can do all things through him [Christ] who strengthens me.
     
  5. Yet you did well to share with me in my hardship.
  6. And you Philippians yourselves know that
      in the beginning times of the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,
      no church entered into partnership with me in accounting giving and receiving,
    except you alone.
  7. Plus even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs more than once.
     
  8. Not that I seek the gift,
      but I seek the fruit, greatly increasing in your account.
  9. I have received full payment, and more.
      I am filled up, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent,
        a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
  10. And my God will supply all your needs
      —or—
    So may my God fill you up, supplying every one of your needs
      according to his glorious wealth in Christ Jesus.
     
  11. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

based on NET Bible with some changes by amf

Paul’s Dilemma

  • Recognize the value in what they have done and encourage them
  • Be very clear that money is not a big concern to him (He has already said that this is a mark of a false teacher.)
  • Very carefully touch on sowing and reaping, guarding against attention to physical possessions.

Goal

  1. To get a firm grasp on what it means for God to supply our needs
  2. To catch hold of Paul’s secret (v.12)
  3. To get what “sowing and reaping” really means

Outline of passage:

  • Your gift to me has brought me great joy
    • I’m not saying this because I was not content in poverty
  • You have a history of specially providing for me
    • I’m not seeking your gifts, but your blessing as a giver
      • God supplying your needs from his abundant riches

1. To get a firm grasp on what it means for God to supply our needs

Philippians 4:19

Two ways of translating the verse, depending on how you understand the original Greek.

  1. Prophetic promise: God WILL supply your every need
  2. Prayer: May God supply your every need

God supplying our needs:

  • God’s heart is to fill you up with blessings from his own rich abundance.
  • He is not mean, but generous.
  • But we must still give him the freedom to be God and not demand he explain to us his choices, which might include us having unmet needs at times.
  • But never let go of his heart of generosity.

2. To catch hold of Paul’s secret (v.12)

3. To get what “sowing and reaping” really means

Sowing and reaping?

  • We sow out of a heart of contentment
  • The motive is to bring a sweet fragrant offering to God
  • Not to get more possessions
  • And then we enjoy whatever God gives

Summary

  1. God’s heart is to fill you up with blessings from his own rich abundance.
  2. Catch hold of Paul’s secret for contentment (v.12)
  3. Bring a fragrant offering to God, simply because you love him

Updated on 2018-04-30 by Andrew Fountain