All you need

Philippians 4:15-19 “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Introduction: The five Greats in Philippians 4:15 - 19

1. A Great Necessity “. . .all your need”

This was written to saved saints. Can you fathom how big the needs would be of multiplied millions of Christians world wide? I can't, but know that He is able to meet all their needs. This verse though is not written to every one but to you, me, us individually. Not the world’s need but your need, not just some of my needs but all!

Imagine, if you can, the variety of needs that God supplies!

There are temporal needs: food, raiment, household cares, family trials, sickness, losses, job, - remember Elijah whom God fed by ravens!

Spiritual needs: need for perpetual pardon; need of fresh strength to battle sin; need for spiritual armor to protect us to accomplish our life’s work; help to do the right thing, at the right time, in the right spirit and manner!

Suffering needs: patience in pain, hope under depression: He will either make the burden lighter or the back stronger: He will either reduce the need or increase the supply.

Sin forgiveness needs: we need to be daily converted from some sin; we need to be instructed by God; we need to be illuminated as to the mind of Christ; we need to be comforted by His promises; we need to be strengthened by His Word!

Oh, what we do not need! We are just a bag of wants and a heap of infirmities! “ My God Shall supply all your need”

Are you well provisioned? Then you need to be kept from loving the world, its follies and fashions; are you poor? then you need help against envy and bitterness.

2. A great Helper “My God shall supply all your need”

Whose God is this? It is the God of Paul. Paul who was in prison, Paul who was ship wrecked, Paul who was stone yet lived, Paul who suffered much but tasted of the provision of God

This is the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. This is the God of Moses, Elijah, and the apostles.

This is My God that has supplied my every need!

3. A Great Supply “My God shall supply all your need”

Remember the widow and the oil in 2 Kings 4:1-7? She was faced with a great debt, all she had was two sons and a little oil. She was faced with the possibility of having to sell her sons into slavery to pay her debt until God stepped in. God caused the oil to increase enough to fill every available pot to the full which she then was able to sell to satisfy her debt. She believed and God supplied! Oh that we would have the same faith as that widow!

4. A Great Resource “. . . according to his riches in glory”

• Consider the riches of His creation, not only the earth but the universe!
• Consider the riches of His providence – without bounds
• Consider the wealth of His grace
• Consider His glory that no man has seen but the angels only
• His riches in glory means not only the riches of what He has done, but the riches of what He could do!

5. A Great Channel “according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ”

To have your soul’s wants satisfied you must go to Christ! Jesus Christ is the fountain head where the living waters well up. You will not have your spiritual wants supplied by your own efforts; nor will they be satisfied by going to man.

We learn of Ishmael that was sent into the wilderness with only a bottle of water whereas Isaac dwelt by the well. It is wise for us to dwell by the well of Christ Jesus, and never trust to the bottles of our own strength.

My prayer for this year is that we all dwell by the well of this Word. Draw from it. Draw from it, for it is full; when you plead this promise the Lord will supply all your need. Do not let unbelief hinder the Lord’s bounty, but cling to this promise “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”