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. ~ Philippians 4:18-23
In v.18, Paul reminds the Philippians believers, due to their obedience to God's leading, he is fully supplied. Paul switches from the language of commerce to the language of worship. He sees their gift not only as their investment in his ministry, he sees it as an act of worship.
The Philippians had given out of their poverty, out of their lack. In response, Paul reminds them that God will supply their every need, abundantly, according to His riches in Christ Jesus. We must take this in its proper context.
The Lord promises to meet our needs, not our wants. It is according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. There are three kinds of riches mentioned in the Bible. There are the riches of His goodness (Romans 2:4) which are available to all men everywhere. The sun shines and the rain falls upon all. Then there are the riches of His grace (Ephesians 2:7) which is available only to those who admit their need for a Savior, who realize they are poor in spirit and have no way to save themselves. After they receive the free gift of salvation from God, His grace takes over and supplies them all they need. Then there is "the riches of his glory" in Christ Jesus. This is only available to those who have passed from the darkness into the light, those who have a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
The "riches of his glory" is beyond our ability to comprehend. Therefore we can never ask for more than He can give. When we come to God for a genuine need and ask His supply, He inevitably does more than we ask, for our limits are not His.
The Apostle Paul's confidence is firmly in God, even though, most often, He uses humans to meet his needs. As we mentioned in our last blog, when the Philippians gave to Paul, they gave out of their need. Because of this, they now had a great need themselves.
When we see our possessions as belonging to God and we are willing to part with them so that the gospel of God can advance, we have surrendered our lives to God, and God is pleased. When we part with money as a costly sacrifice, we do so for the sake of the advancement of the gospel.
In v.19, the Apostle encourages the Philippians that God will meet their needs out of His riches in glory. He redirects them from their circumstances back to God, who is able to supply. This is the point of ALL of life, whether good or bad.
God meets our needs, literally, “according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” “Glory” is a reference to God’s sovereignty. He has an abundant supply of riches. These riches are made available in and through the Lord Jesus. Paul says that God is not only able to meet needs but that He does so in a way that is commensurate with His riches in Christ.
Paul knows that God will do this because he has put God to the test and he knows and trusts that the promises of God are true. If we want to find true contentment, we must trust the promises of God. Im learning that God knows my needs better than I. Also, His timing is perfect, and He rarely blesses me with just me in mind.
In Paul's conclusion in v.21-23, we are reminded that Philippians is about joyful and adventurous Christianity. We see that “Caesar’s household” came to faith in the Lord Jesus. This is the point of all things, that people come to faith in Him and grow in their personal relationship with the Lord. Paul's presence and ministry in that Roman prison aided in “Caesar’s household” being converted to the Lord Jesus. The gospel had penetrated the heart of Rome’s power structure: the household of Caesar.
No matter how powerful the opposition to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel is more powerful. It can penetrate the household of the fiercest tyrant or the heart of the most stalwart atheist. Where might you go with the powerful proclamation that Jesus is Lord? Everywhere
Yet again, we are reminded that the secret to contentment lies in trusting God's promises, and being invested in His ministry. If we are going to find true, lasting contentment, we must take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on the Lord Jesus. We must find our hope and strength in Him. As we learn to do this, we will be able to say, along with Paul, that we have learned the secret to being content in any and every circumstance.
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When we see our possessions as belonging to God and we are willing to part with them so that the gospel of God can advance, we have surrendered our lives to God, and God is pleased. When we part with money as a costly sacrifice, we do so for the sake of the advancement of the gospel.
In v.19, the Apostle encourages the Philippians that God will meet their needs out of His riches in glory. He redirects them from their circumstances back to God, who is able to supply. This is the point of ALL of life, whether good or bad.
God meets our needs, literally, “according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” “Glory” is a reference to God’s sovereignty. He has an abundant supply of riches. These riches are made available in and through the Lord Jesus. Paul says that God is not only able to meet needs but that He does so in a way that is commensurate with His riches in Christ.
Paul knows that God will do this because he has put God to the test and he knows and trusts that the promises of God are true. If we want to find true contentment, we must trust the promises of God. Im learning that God knows my needs better than I. Also, His timing is perfect, and He rarely blesses me with just me in mind.
In Paul's conclusion in v.21-23, we are reminded that Philippians is about joyful and adventurous Christianity. We see that “Caesar’s household” came to faith in the Lord Jesus. This is the point of all things, that people come to faith in Him and grow in their personal relationship with the Lord. Paul's presence and ministry in that Roman prison aided in “Caesar’s household” being converted to the Lord Jesus. The gospel had penetrated the heart of Rome’s power structure: the household of Caesar.
No matter how powerful the opposition to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel is more powerful. It can penetrate the household of the fiercest tyrant or the heart of the most stalwart atheist. Where might you go with the powerful proclamation that Jesus is Lord? Everywhere
Yet again, we are reminded that the secret to contentment lies in trusting God's promises, and being invested in His ministry. If we are going to find true, lasting contentment, we must take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on the Lord Jesus. We must find our hope and strength in Him. As we learn to do this, we will be able to say, along with Paul, that we have learned the secret to being content in any and every circumstance.
To help BYM, click here
