This is the manuscript of the third sermon in the "Celebrating the Life That Christ Makes Possible".
Scripture
Philippians 4:4-20 NIV Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 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; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 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. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Introduction
When you are confronted with needs for yourself, your family, your job, or your church, what do you do? Facing need is a key to Christian living.
Text:
Philippians 4:19 NIV And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
When Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, he was a prisoner in Rome and he had some great needs. However as a servant of Christ, Paul had learned the secret to facing need.
Today we are going to look at some specific ways to deal with our needs and they are to be enthusiastic, peaceful, positive, teachable, expectant, generous, and fulfilled.
I. Be enthusiastic (4:4).
When we have a need, we are not to hide it, deny it, or disregard it; we are to rejoice in the Lord.
Philippians 4:4 NIV Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
The word rejoice is an imperative, a command. It is present tense, urging continuous action. It's an attitude of life, “always rejoice.”
Our focus is to be on the Lord, not on our need. As I told my Bible study group on Wednesday our focus should be vertical not horizontal. Our focus should be on God not people or things.
Colossians 3:1-4 NIV Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Here’s a little story I read about a preacher, as I was preparing this sermon.
"It was one of those I never-should-have-gotten-out-of-bed days for this preacher. This specific story is not about me but I’ve had some of those never-should-have-gotten-out-of-bed days.
The preacher cut his face while shaving. Then he burned his toast for breakfast. After he rushed out the door so he wouldn’t be late for an appointment, one of his tires blew out a few miles down the road.
He finally got his car back on the road and was going a few miles over the speed limit when a police officer stopped him and gave him a ticket for speeding. By that time, he was extremely upset, and he complained bitterly to the policeman about the kind of day he was experiencing. “I know what you mean,” said the officer. “It used to happen to me that way—before I became a Christian!”
The police officer’s focus was vertical not horizontal and that’s where our focus should be so that we can rejoice in all circumstances including those circumstances where we have needs. I didn't say rejoicing for the circumstances but in the middle of them. To do that we have to see things from God’s perspective and be enthusiastic in dealing with our needs. Rejoice and again I say rejoice.
II. We are to be peaceful when we have a need (4:6–7).
Philippians 4:5-7 NIV Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
In the King James it says
Philippians 4:5 KJV Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
The word moderation means a readiness to listen to reason.
The tendency of the world is to become hard and tough, to demand one’s rights, but this is not the Christian response. We are to be gentle toward all people. MLK's nonviolent approach to hate and retaliation is an example of gentle and peaceful response to the need for equality.
The natural tendency in a time of need is to worry, fret and often lash out. But worry is not the answer!
God’s Word says we are not to worry about anything.
Matthew 6:25-34 NIV “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
When we worry, we are sinning by showing a lack of trust in God. Instead, we are instructed to commit our requests to God in prayer and allow him to be Lord in our lives.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Peace comes through prayer as an act of worship, through through asking earnestly for our personal needs to be met, and through thanking God for meeting those needs whenever He meets them. This brings a peace that is beyond human understanding which keeps guarding our inner life. It calms us.
III. Be positive when you have a need (4:8).
Philippians 4:8 NIV Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Think positively, not negatively. Think spiritual thoughts. Think high thoughts, honest thoughts, thoughts worthy of respect, Think agreeable, loving, and pure thoughts. Then you will be living by God’s standards.
IV. Be teachable when you have needs (4:9, 11).
Because the Lord may have a purpose for the need in your life.
A. The Lord may use a need to develop us. To develop spiritual qualities in our lives. In the 4th chapter, of Philippians, which we are looking at today, we discover several of those spiritual qualities:
We discover gratefulness
Philippians 4:6 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Thank God for meeting the need even before you see it. That is the very essence of faith.
Hebrews 11:1-2 NIV Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
Joyfulness is another spiritual quality we discover
Philippians 4:10 NIV I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
Paul learned to be joyful through his many trials and ministry experiences.
Christians can overcome worry and worldly desires, regardless of their circumstances. By making a purposeful decision to be content, a believer can trust God to provide our true needs, and not be consumed with materialism or anxiety.
Contentment is another spiritual quality we discover
Philippians 4:11 NIV I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
The secret to contentment is to learn to enjoy what God has already given you. One of the reasons that we are overwhelmed and worry is that we feel that we must work and work and work to earn the things from God that will result in our enjoyment. Then once we get them, we think that we have to keep working so that we can enjoy them. We are never content and happy with the material blessings we receive through the gifts and talents He has given us. The gifts, talents, and everything we have are from God and are for us to use and enjoy for His glory now.
Contentment is an attitude that none of us possesses naturally. It is something we have to learn. Our natural inclination is not to to be content. Rather, it is to complain of our circumstances or to covet what we do not have. Contentment is realizing that God has provided everything we need for our present happiness. The opposite is covetousness, lusting for more and more.
Another spiritual quality we discover is flexibility.
Philippians 4:12 NIV I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
being flexible is part of being content
And finally we discover faith
Philippians 4:13 NIV I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
B. The Lord sometimes uses a need to develop us and sometimes He uses a need to discipline or test us.
You have heard me say in the past that God doesn’t do things to hurt us, but He will allow some things to accomplish His purpose for us.
James 1:12 NIV Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
It can be difficult to imagine why God would ever let someone suffer, but the truth is that God is always in control. Nothing happens in your life that He is not aware of. God has a great plan for your life! He knows that you will struggle through painful situations, but He can sustain you during the worst of times.
John 16:33 NIV “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We can rely on God when we are struggling, because we know He is in control.
Romans 8:28 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Whatever your need and whatever God’s purpose is, remember to rejoice.
Philippians 4:4 NIV Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
VI. When you have a need be expectant (4:13).
Philippians 4:13 NIV I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Some people think that this is the greatest verse in all the Bible.
This verse is positive: “I can.” It is personal: “I can.” It is powerful: “do all things.” In the face of your need, you can be defeated, or you can expect the victory Jesus gives.
Romans 8:37-39 NIV No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
VII. When we have a need we should be generous (4:14–18).
In the time of our own need, we tend to be stingy, but the key to having that need met is having an attitude of generosity. If we are in “need,” this means we should begin giving.
Philippians 4:14-19 NIV Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 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; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 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. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
The Philippian church was a generous church; consequently, Paul’s needs were met and so we were theirs
Generosity is the quality of being kind and unselfish, especially as it pertains to sharing money and other valuables with others. The Bible has a lot to say about generosity as a desirable character trait.
Proverbs 22:9 NIV The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
God is generous, and He expects us to follow His example.
God challenges us to be generous because He wants us to receive the blessing that comes from it.
Paul exhorts the church to be generous in their giving to the Lord’s work. And he praises the Philippians for being so generous to him, adding that it is not for himself that he rejoices but for them—they will be blessed because of their gift.
Philippians 4:17 NIV Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
We can apply these encouragements to our own lives and strive to be generous and wise with everything God has entrusted to us.
IX. And finally we can be fulfilled even when we have need.(4:19).
Philippians 4:19 NIV And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
God’s treatment of the Philippians would correspond to their treatment of Paul. This is the divine principle of reciprocity—giving and receiving.
Luke 6:37-38 NIV “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 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.”
Conclusion
What about your needs? How are you responding to them? What are you doing with them? We need to take our eyes off the need and put them on God. Change you focus from horizontal to vertical.
Philippians 4:19 NIV And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Lord,
Help us to trust in you with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding but in all our ways submit to you. Make our paths straight and guide us down the right path. We know in this life there will be times of suffering and hardship but help us take heart because we know you have overcome the world.
Give us the courage to face the challenges that come. Help us to persevere and not give up. Give us the strength to face these storms. Pour out your peace over us and keep us in your perfect peace.
Thank you, God, for hearing and answering our prayer.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
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