God Meets Our Needs
Phil 4:14-23
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Here we are at the end of the Book of Philippians. And the book ends very much as it began. The people at Philippi, who were among the very first to hear the gospel in Europe, at least from Paul, are concerned about Paul’s welfare. Paul is in prison. And in the Roman world, from what I have been led to believe, prisoners had to be cared for by their friends and family. The government did not run the prison. If you didn’t have folks to care for you then you were gonna starve. Paul has people who are caring for him. And their care actually demonstrates how God works in our lives to make us a team working together for the benefit of the kingdom of God. Paul has God meet his needs through the Philippians, and Paul says that God will meet theirs as well. It is my hope and prayer that all of us who seek to follow Jesus Christ will see ourselves as ministers in the kingdom of God, seeing God work in our lives and through our lives to care for the needs of others. That’s what we see here in Philippians.
- Sharing Each Other’s Troubles
v.14-16
- They support Paul financially
Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2
The law of Christ?
John 13: 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
- They keep up with Paul and pray for him
2:19-20 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.
Example of Timothy
There are several things in Paul’s life that extends God’s work through Him:
His conflict with Barnabas and John Mark: Twice as many missionaries.
His imprisonment: He writes NT books and other people step up to help in his kingdom ministry.
His physical health challenges. Acts 16 pronouns change to “we”. Dr. Luke joins up with Paul.
- They send Epaphroditus to minister
2:25-26
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.
v.18
18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
There is a gift of money, as well as a gift of prayer, love and information!
- Sharing the Joy of Growth
v.17
- They are investing in God’s kingdom
2:20-21 Loving and serving each other is an investment in serving Christ!
Parable of the sheep and goats: In as much as you have done it to the least of these brothers of mine, you have done it to me. “I was in prison and you visited me!”
4:18 Their service to Paul is called a sacrifice to God!
18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
- They are partners in ministry
1:3-6 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is common for Paul to ask people to pray that he would be bold in sharing the gospel. Eph 6. 8 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Colossians 4: 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
- They are the result of Paul’s ministy
1:7, 27
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel
III. All These Things Will Be Given As Well
Realities for those who are committed to God’s kingdom and will
Matthew 6:33
- Service can be costly
Time, energy, emotional pain, money, patience
You must deny self, take up your cross and follow Jesus.
This is a daily process which means you will grow in it. But if we will focus our minds on the good, we can experience joy in the self denial.
Think of the Matthew 6 passage relating to anxiety in the light of ministry. And then think about the feeding of the 5,000.
Disciples see a problem: Solution: send them away.
Jesus sees an opportunity: You give them something to eat.
Disciples see the impossibility: We cannot do this.
Jesus asks them: What do you have?
Jesus instructs them: sit them in groups of 50. Then Jesus breaks up what they have into some for each and they pass it out.
They have more when they are done than when they began.
- You won’t out give God
My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.
Give and it will be given to you.
Luke 6: 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Your Heavenly Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Matt 6: 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Service is the way of life that fits the image of God in us. Therefore, we find purpose and meaning in it.
God gives gifts so that we can use them in service for Him.
I Cor 12: 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
God gives resources for the same purpose.
II Cor 8: And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.
7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
Encouragement to participate
II Cor 9: 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
- We partner with God in kingdom ministry
The very same pride and pleasure that Paul feels in the Philippians as they grow in the grace of God in their lives is felt by God as we grow into His image.
Imagine your children living out their lives in the best, most mature and helpful manner possible. Imagine them sharing your values and passions. This is how God can feel about us! You don’t have to be perfect for God to feel this way. As you invest your life in the kingdom of God, you will find that God will direct you and sharpen your abilities!
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