Adequate Resources
Notes
Transcript
Intro; In devotion # 211 from Pause for Power, Warren Wiersbe writes about Needs and Greed.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
God has not promised to supply all of our “greeds.” When we are in the will of God, serving for the glory of God, then we will have every need met. Hudson Taylor often said, “When God’s work is done in God’s way for God’s glory, it will not lack for God’s supply.”
A young pastor came to a church that had been accustomed to raising its annual budget by means of suppers, bazaars, and the like. He told his officers he could not agree with their program. “Let’s pray and ask God to meet every need,” he suggested. “At the end of the month, pay all the bills and leave my salary till the last. If there isn’t enough money for my salary, then I’m the one who will suffer, and not the church. But I don’t think anybody is going to suffer!” The officers were sure that both the pastor and the church would die, but such was not the case. Each month every bill was paid, and at the end of the year there was a surplus in the treasury for the first time in many years.
Contentment comes from adequate resources. Our resources are the providence of God, the power of God, and the promises of God.
You now know the true context of [Phil. 4:13].
Paul is saying that he has strength in Christ to be content with life in Christ.
Contentment means being satisfied and at peace about where God has you, despite what’s happening around you. It’s not natural or automatic; it must be learned. God teaches us contentment through the ups and downs of changing circumstances. He wants us to learn to depend on him and his divine enabling no matter what.
This morning I want us to look at “Adequate Resources” in the strength of Christ.
Text; Phil. 4:10-19
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.
15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
1. Adequate Resources in the Providence of God; 10, 14-16
1. Adequate Resources in the Providence of God; 10, 14-16
Providence- care of/ for
Providence of God- His plan and intervention with His creation, involving His divine care, direction and provision
Paul is saying that God has provided for his needs in ministry through the church at Philippi when no one else would help when they were the most unlikely source!
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,
4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.
9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
God used the church at Philippi, a church in poverty, as a source of His Providence to Paul for him to minister to others. God wants to use Westview as a source of His Providence to minister the Gospel to others.
Too often christians don’t feel like they can give to the church for ministry, but they don’t have a problem giving to other places that meet their so called “needs”. [House, new vehicle, hobbies, travel ball, designer clothes, etc…]
We need to realize everything we have and the ability to get comes from God. And because God is so good, as christians we should have a desire to give back to Him. Not a percent, but how He prospers us!
Tithing is a OT standard teaching one how to give; percent and given regularly [26% is what Jews tithed in a year]
Grace giving is in the NT. We are to give based on how God has prospered us.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
Let me remind you of something Job said;
21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
The Adequate Resources in the Providence of God are given by His divine care to bless us so we can be a blessing to others for His glory!
2. Adequate Resources in the Power of God; 11-12, 17-18
2. Adequate Resources in the Power of God; 11-12, 17-18
Power of God- Omnipotence; God’s unlimited authority/power to bring into existence or cause to happen whatever is in accordance to His will.
God’s power should not always be thought of as in the physical realm; like in creation, parting the Red Sea, or in miracles of physical healing. Though that is part of His Omnipotence! But God’s power works in other ways as well.
[v.11-12] God’s power has the ability to teach us to be content. Contentment is not anything we are born with, but by God’s power it’s something we can learn.
Contentment is an inner sufficiency that keeps us at peace in spite of our outward circumstances.
Paul is writing from prison, yet he is content. Paul learned that life does not consist of what we possess physically or materially, but Who possesses us spiritually!
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
[v.17-18] God’s Power changes the outcome of circumstances;
Again, Paul is writing from prison commending the church not only in their giving to meet his needs, but for the fruit it has and will produce spiritually for the glory of God!
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.
22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
The Power of God is an Adequate Resource to enable one to live above his/her circumstances by going through good and difficult situations, always trusting God’s power to sustain us to give Him glory!
3. Adequate Resources in the Promises of God; 19
3. Adequate Resources in the Promises of God; 19
Promise of God- the practice of committing to another person to accomplish a task, giving the person to whom the promise is made the right to expect the promise to be performed in full.
Most every promise in the Word of God has a condition attached to it, except promises that deal with God’s love and faithfulness, those are unconditional!
Paul says that “his God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
What is the condition to this promise?
1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Close;
The Resources of God are Adequate for every need in our life. He Provides, endues with Power and is good on every Promise! Matter of fact I know personally, that God’s resources are more than adequate for Molly and I, with room to spare so we can bless others!
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Are you content in Christ today?
