And the Lord mercifully and graciously
bless us together as we meditate in his word tonight. Let's turn
to the fourth chapter in the epistle of Paul to the Philippians
and we'll read verse 19. The fourth chapter in the epistle
of Paul to the Philippians and reading verse 19. But my God, shall supply all
your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. The Apostle is able, by the grace
of God, to make a very positive statement. A positive statement
because he had experienced the great truth which he was able
to speak to the Philippians and also through the Holy Spirit,
the whole Church of God. And so he comes and tells us
that his God will supply all your need. And what a blessing
if tonight you and I can come in and believe the great truth
of these words, but my God. Not someone else's God. It's
the God that you and I, by His grace, worship. It's the God that you and I,
by His grace, believe in. It's the God who we come to in
our prayers, who we look to, who we depend upon. Well, Paul
was able to give such a word from his own life, and as you
read through, especially the Acts of the Apostles, and you
can appreciate what he endured, what he passed through, many
times of trial, many times of temptation, but the Lord delivered
him out of them all. The Lord did not fail the Apostle.
My friends, the Lord does not fail his people. And what a blessing
it is, therefore, if we can come in a humble confidence, believing
that today we worship this same Almighty God who has always been
and always will be, who does not change. The Word of God is
not untrue. It's true. And so as we go forth
day by day, go forth week by week and year by year, to have
this humble confidence that God will supply all our need. It doesn't say all that we want,
and there's a big difference, but it does say that all our
need will be supplied. Sometimes, of course, we don't
recognise what is our true need and what is just our want. But the Word of God tells us,
my God shall supply all your need. Well, it's a great mercy
if today we have a need, and I'm sure all of us have a need,
without any doubt. And we have different needs,
but we all have needs. And we all need God to supply
those needs. So if we are able to come to
our God, committing our way unto him, believing that he will indeed
be gracious to us. Because here the apostle wrote
Antimotheus to the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints
in Christ Jesus, which are at Philippi, with the bishops and
deacons. Yes, he was writing with a humble
confidence that what he was saying was true and of course it's true
not only to the church and the people at Philippi but also to
the whole Church of God. And he brings this verse into
relevance really by speaking to them of how they had been
faithful and how they had helped him. And so he tells us again
In verse 13, which I already quoted in prayer, I can do all
things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding
ye have well done that ye did communicate with my affliction. Well, we see there perhaps a
physical affliction, perhaps a spiritual affliction. And to
realize that these Philippians, they communicated with the apostle. You see, it's not just a natural
need, supplying food and clothes and accommodation, it's far more
than that. And yet to realise that here
he's able to say, you have done well that you did communicate
with my affliction. So we should bear these things
in mind and recognise they may have an application to ourselves
in our affliction, but also that we may be used to help other
people in their affliction. And again, it's so easy to be
self-centered and only be concerned about ourselves. And yet we should
consider the whole church of God. And we have that wonderful
statement, which we're told freely you have received and freely
give. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver. So never be backward in giving,
through physical things or perhaps through speaking and encouraging. There's many ways that we are
to encourage one another, to communicate with one another. And then he says, now you 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." Well, that was a very sad statement
to have to make, but nonetheless, he was able to confirm that the
Philippians had communicated with him. And again, it's these
words are written in the word of God to instruct and encourage
us in our lives. And so that we may not be amongst
those who did not communicate, but those who do communicate. And then he tells us, for even
in Thessalonica, he sent once and again unto my necessity. There are necessities. We may
not always know what those necessities are, but we can come committing
the situation to the Lord And then he says, not because I desire
a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. You see how he was concerned
about the spiritual prosperity of the Philippians. And that
should always be our concern. The spiritual blessing of one
and another. Not to desire things that people
give us, but to desire there may be the evidence of spiritual
fruit. And of course we have a list
of that, of spiritual fruit, the Apostle has already written,
as he wrote it in the Galatians, and we should be thankful for
that. When he then comes on and tells us, 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, well-pleasing to God. And therefore he acknowledges
that he has been provided for by these Philippians and he comes
in to encourage the Philippians themselves and also to encourage
us today. It's wonderful to realize that
we have such a great God. Such a great God. And he tells
us in a very positive way But my God, which is, of course,
the true God, the eternal God, the everlasting God, shall supply
all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. In the Word of God, there are
many statements which commence with, but God. But there's only
one statement, and that's in this verse. which tells us but
my God. It's a very personal thought. It's a very personal truth. And
it's wonderful if you and I are blessed with it to be able to
confirm through blessed and living faith that we believe such a
word as that. Because it is true and we can
rest in it. And we can believe that God will
supply all our need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus. But let me just reiterate, it
doesn't mean to say that the Lord will supply everything that
we think we need, but he will supply everything that we do
need. To realize therefore that in
our journey of life, Whether that's long or short, Almighty
God will supply our every need. My God shall supply all your
need. And then of course the confirmation
is according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Well, the apostle is recognizing
there that The Lord has everything at his disposal, every natural
thing and every spiritual thing according to his riches in glory
by Christ Jesus. What a wonderful, wonderful and
great and glorious truth that is to know that we have such
a God. And in the Ephesians, we can
also read a very encouraging statement. In the third chapter
and the 16th verse the Apostle again tells the Ephesians this
time that he would grant you, that's Almighty God, I would
grant you according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened
with might by His Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell
in your hearts by faith that ye, being rooted and grounded
in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth
and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ,
which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the
fullness of God. Well, it's quite a long sentence,
but it's a great and glorious truth to realize that the apostle
was able to write to the Ephesians in those strong terms of encouragement
and also to write to the Philippians. And it's good perhaps sometimes
as we read such grand and glorious truths to just realize what the
Apostle Paul had to encounter in his life. And we see that
he did not complain. He did not complain. No, the
apostle was able to confirm and he tells us, and we know, he
said, that all things work together for good to those who love God
and to those who are called according to his purpose. Sometimes we
may think, well, this can't be, this can't be right, this can't
be good. It's not bringing me any blessing. In fact, it's bringing
me hardship and sorrow and sadness and difficulty. Well, the Apostle
had those things to pass through. But he looks beyond that to realize
that God was in charge. He could do all things through
Christ that strengthened him. And what a blessing it was as
we realize what the Apostle endured. He gives us a list, doesn't he,
of those things that he had to face. And it was no easy life
that the Apostle had to endure. And we have that list in the
Second Epistle of Paul to the Philippians, sorry, Corinthians.
And especially when he tells us the things that he had to
endure in the 11th chapter, he tells us, he says great and important
truths and he gives a list and he says, are they Hebrew? So am I. Are they Israelite?
So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham?
So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool. I am more in labors in labours
more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent,
in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received
I forty stripes, save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods,
once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day
I've been in a deep. in journeyings often, in perils
of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen,
in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils
in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false
brethren, in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger
and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. And then he says finally, beside
those things which are without, that which cometh upon me daily,
the care of all the churches. Well, sometimes we may think
we're hard done by. We may perhaps cry out, how hard
is my path? Well, it's good then sometimes
to be able to compare ourself with what the Apostle lists there. It's a very long list, isn't
it? And it's comprehensive. And yet
you see the Apostle was willing to endure. And that's why he
comes now and tells us, but my God shall supply all your needs. So in all those difficulties,
all those trying situations, He's confirming the Lord hadn't
left him, he hadn't forsaken him, but the Lord was with him. My God shall supply all your
need and he gives the qualification, let me repeat it again, according
to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. That was the secret and
that's where the blessing came to him from, the blessed knowledge
and evidence of these riches in glory by Christ Jesus. It
may sometimes be good for us just to look beyond the things
of this world to those things which are in glory, according
to his riches which are in glory. Because there is a great and
wonderful fullness in the Savior, how tremendous it is to think
of this fullness in Christ, whichever abides to answer our need. We may perhaps sometimes become
oppressed, sometimes we may be depressed, but whichever it is,
to realize we have a God in heaven who never sleeps, who's always
alert, who's always ready to hear and answer prayer, and who
will always supply our need because of His riches in glory. Again, it's by Christ Jesus. So it's wonderful to think sometimes
of what the Saviour has. And the Saviour, of course, shows
to us those riches and those riches really direct us to the
eternal life of our soul and the saving of our soul and the
redemption of our soul and the lord sometimes brings us into
situation which are we might say painful to our flesh to lead
us from ourselves to the Saviour and be able to consider Him. This will put things in a right
perspective. We can be very sorry for ourselves
sometimes, but to realise what the Saviour endured for you and
me. The suffering, the agony, the
loneliness, Yes, the wrong accusations the Saviour endured. And therefore
we see here this statement, according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus. And those riches are there that
the Lord dispenses to us to bring us into that time of fellowship
with the Saviour. The Apostle, of course, speaks
about it in the previous chapter in this third chapter, and it's
very clear what he tells you, he said, but what things were
gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Therefore the
things of this poor world, which would be gained to him, he counted
loss for Christ. I often think it's a wonderful
statement in this third chapter. that the Apostle is able to give
vent to, to give an expression to, so that we have a clear understanding
of his true desire after spiritual blessings. It's so very easy
for us to only desire natural blessings and we tend to weigh
up our life in view of natural things. And
yet the Apostle goes far beyond that. And he tells us, therefore,
what things were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ,
willing to give up everything. Yea, doubtless, he says. And
I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus, my Lord. for whom I have suffered the
loss of all things, and do count them but done, that I may win
Christ. It needs pondering over, doesn't
it? Needs thinking about. But it's
a tremendous statement. And surely, if God blesses us
with these true heavenly desires, it puts things in a right perspective. What a blessing it is when, as
it is, the Lord comes to us and, as the Apostle says, and be found
in Him. How needful for all of us to
be found in Christ, not outside of Christ, not content with just
the things of time, the comforts of our natural life, and to be
out of Christ. Because those things which are
outside will perish with the using. But those things which
are in Christ are immovable. They are eternal. And so he tells
us a wonderful truth that although he suffered the loss of all things
and counted them but done, that he might win Christ and be found
in him, not having his own righteousness, which is of the law, but that
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which
is of God by faith. It's a wonderful blessing to
be given living faith, faith to look forward to the things
beyond this life, faith to believe the great and glorious Saviour
came into this world to deliver us from the wrath to come, to
save our souls, to go and prepare a place for us in glory. These
things, my friends, need to be central in our little lives. And yet you see how Satan so
often turns around and says, well, you don't need to worry
about those things. Concentrate on the poor old things of time.
Be sorry for yourself. You haven't got this and haven't
got that. And yet you see, if you and I are in Christ, we have
all that we can ever really need because it is an eternal blessing. That's why he says, according
to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Yes, wonderful if God
supplies all these things for us. And so he tells us this,
and to receive Christ's righteousness, all we have is rotten righteousness,
filthy rags, won't get us anywhere. But all the saints of God are
clothed with the righteousness of Christ. Well, again, a wonderful
blessing if we possess faith to believe in this great favor. And he goes on, that I may know
him. And the apostle knew him, of
course, but he wanted to know more of him. How does that respond
in our hearts? What is our great desire? What's
our great prayer? Do we come and say with the apostle
that I might know him? and the power of His resurrection
to lift us up from the poor things of time the power of His resurrection
and then this glorious statement and the fellowship of His sufferings
you don't come there easily you don't just pick them up God brings
us, He leads us into this path which you and I might think is
a painful path, fellowship with his sufferings. But the truth
is, if the Lord leads us there, brings us there, according to
his riches in glory, it's the greatest blessing that you and
I can possess. Because what he brings with it
is union with Christ. Union with Christ. If we're to
spend eternity with the Blessed Saviour, it'll be union with
Christ. And I believe you and I will
desire and be concerned to possess union with Christ as we travel
through this world in preparation for our eternal home. Fellowship
of his sufferings and being made conformable unto his death. conformable to the death of Christ,
the most painful death anybody could endure. So what have we
had to face in our life? You may say, well I've had this
pain and I've had this difficulty and I've had this problem and
that problem. How does it compare with the
death of the Saviour? Well, it's very mild, isn't it?
So he tells us being made conformable, conformable unto his death, if
by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Again that's a very tremendous
statement. If by any means, he means whatever
it may take to bring us to the blessed attainment of a resurrection
to eternal life. Let it be so. You know, that's
very difficult, isn't it, for us fleshly mortals to put ourselves
in that condition. But we have here the testimony
of the Apostle Paul when he tells us, My God shall supply all your
need You may think, is that a need? Do I need that? Surely I don't
need that. Well, let me tell you, it's a
favour to be brought into that position and produce that blessed
union with the Saviour. And that is a wonderful evidence,
a wonderful evidence that we possess the gift of eternal life,
because it means union with the Lamb from condemnation free,
eternal blessings. And so he says, if by any means
I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead, not as though I
had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow
after, if that I may apprehend, I may understand that for which
also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not
myself to have apprehended for this one thing I do. I hope we
remember these things and note them and read them and ponder
them this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind
and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus well that's quite a long statement but you can't
really break it up and it is the expression of the Apostle's
heart As He lays before us His concern to enjoy and to know
fellowship with His great and glorious Saviour who'd given
Himself, who died for Him upon the cross at Calvary. My friends,
it's no different, is it, for you and me today. You may think,
well, I'm not a Paul. Well, you may not be a Paul. But what a blessing if God gives
us and evidence and a desire to
be found seeking after Christ with the same desire that the
Apostle had. We read this morning, the end of
that chapter this morning, one thing is needful, one thing is
needful, the knowledge of Christ. There's a hymn which says, I'm
sure you're familiar with it, The knowledge of Christ is more
precious than gold. You and I may possess everything
in this life. We may have wonderful comforts.
My friends, do we have the knowledge of Christ? Because all the things
of time will pass away with time. The things of eternity will live
forever. what a mercy it is then if our
hearts and our affections are set above and to realize indeed
what the Apostle writes to us about the Savior in the second
chapter of the Ephesians a wonderful chapter and he tells us from
verse 4 but God who is rich in mercy For His great love wherewith
He loved us. Again it's good to just ponder
that. To think how unworthy we are of any love. And then to
realise what great love the Lord has for God who is rich in mercy. For His great love wherewith
He loved us even when we were dead in sins. even when we were
spiritually dead. He didn't cast us off. He didn't
say, well that person's of no value, I'm not going to look
upon him, I'm not going to touch her. But here we have this great
statement, among whom also, and even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us, made us alive, together with Christ. Union with Christ. by grace ye
are saved. The free unmerited favour. What a mercy to think that this
great God has looked down upon us and we can rejoice in it that
God has supplied our need and he will supply our need. according
to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Even when we were dead
in sins, he quickened us together with Christ. By grace are you
saved and has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus. What a mercy it is, isn't it?
To be favoured with union with Christ and to be found in Christ
and to be found living with Christ and enjoying fellowship with
Christ. Naturally, we don't seek after
these things. But what a mercy if the Holy
Spirit has come into our hearts and set our hearts and our affections
upon things above and not on things on the earth. Such a blessing
is not of self. You and I are sinners. You and I are earthly. What a
blessing to be lifted up from these temporal things those things
which are eternal and given that grace to look forward to that
inheritance which is undefiled and that fadeth not away and
that is reserved in heaven for those who are kept by the power
of God through grace under salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time well it will be it will be revealed yes it will be revealed
to us and it's wonderful when we have the evidence and we realize
that we're not what we would be but we're not what we were
I wonder if you can look into your heart and see that and see
there's been a change You're not what you would be, but you're
not what you were. There's been a change. God has come. He has drawn you
to himself. He has made himself precious.
He has revealed to you a little of his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus. You're able by his grace to look
beyond the things of time to the things of eternity, the things
which will be forever and ever. And when by his grace we shall
be found forever with the Lord. You know the apostle, sorry,
the psalmist said, oh Lord, how manifold are thy works. Manifold are the works of God. And wonderful it is when you
and I can see those works, the work of God in our heart. The work of God which has produced
a change. The work of God that has given
life. The work of God which has enabled us to look forward to
eternal glory. Oh what a mercy it is. you know
the hymn writer has a word I think it's Psalm hymn 184 and this
is what the hymn writer says he says let's find it a fullness resides in Jesus our
head and ever abides to answer our
need. The Father's good pleasure has
laid up in store a plentiful treasure to give to the poor. Whatever our wants, we need not
to fear. Our numerous complaints, His
mercy will hear. His fullness shall yield us abundant
supplies. His power shall shield us when
dangers arise. Well it's a great blessing if
you and I are favoured with good views, right views of our blessed
God and to possess living faith to believe that such a word is
true. This word is true in your life
and my life and be able to say but My God. Not someone else's. It may be someone else's, but
also to have a personal claim as our Father in heaven. But
my God shall supply all your need according to his riches
in glory by Christ Jesus. My friends, the riches of glory
in Christ Jesus so far exceed anything that this world can
offer. Sometimes we may be taken up
with the poor things of time, but they are only in time. And to think that all those riches
in glory by Christ Jesus, which will never fade away, they will
always remain, always remain, and always be bright and shining,
And what a wonderful favour it is, therefore, to have a gracious
and glorious and blessed anticipation of the day when, by His grace,
we shall see His face, by His grace, we shall be in glory,
and to know that that will then be an eternal situation. No worry then, no concerns then,
safety, safety. And we are as safe now, if we
are in Christ, as we shall be in glory. Once in Him, in Him
forever. That's the truth of God's Word. Well, may we ponder these things,
may we meditate upon them and realise the glory of such a truth
as this. my God, but my God shall supply
all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Amen.