GOD’S PROMISES AND YOUR NEEDS PART 7

TEXT - PHILIPPIANS 4:19

INTRODUCTION


FOR THE PAST SEVEN WEEKS WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS SERIES I HAVE CALLED, “STANDING ON THE PROMISES.”

THIS IS THE LAST SERMON IN THIS SERIES.  MY TEXT IS FOUND IN PHILIPPIANS 4:19 AND THE TITLE OF THE SERMON IS, "GOD’S PROMISES AND YOUR NEEDS."

HERE IN THIS VERSE WE FIND PAUL SPEAKING TO THE CHURCH IN THE CITY OF PHILIPPI.

THIS IS A VERSE THAT WE HAVE HEARD MANY TIMES IN THE PAST, YET IT IS ONE THAT WE HAVE PROBABLY NEVER LOOKED AT IN DEPTH AT BEFORE.

NOTICE FIRST OF ALL THAT PAUL TELLS US THAT "GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS".

WHAT KIND OF NEEDS DO YOU THINK OF IMMEDIATELY —    WHEN YOU READ THIS VERSE?

I AM SURE THAT MOST IF NOT ALL OF YOU THINK ABOUT THE PHYSICAL NEEDS THAT WE HAVE,

YET, AS HUMAN BEINGS AND AS GOD'S PEOPLE OUR NEEDS EXTEND FAR BEYOND THE PHYSICAL REALM OF LIFE AND INCLUDE THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF LIFE AS WELL.

IF GOD SUPPLIES "ALL" OF OUR NEEDS”, THEN THIS MEANS HE DOES IT FOR BOTH OUR PHYSICAL AND OUR SPIRITUAL NEEDS IN LIFE.

THE WORD "ALL" TAKES IN A VERY LARGE AREA AND IS A VERY GENERAL WORD.

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR NEEDS AND MY NEEDS THERE ARE SOME NEEDS THAT ARE UNIVERSAL IN NATURE.

FOR INSTANCE, EVERYONE NEEDS AIR TO BREATH AND FOOD TO EAT.  WE ALSO NEED TO BE LOVED BY OTHERS.

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO LOOK AT FOUR UNIVERSAL SPIRITUAL NEEDS THAT GOD SUPPLIES IN OUR DAILY LIFE.

BEFORE WE DO THIS THOUGH, NOTICE HOW GOD PROVIDES THESE NEEDS FOR US.

PAUL TELLS US THAT HE DOES THIS "ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS".

A NEEDY WIDOW IN CHICAGO LIVED BY THE MOTTO: "THE LORD WILL PROVIDE." EVEN WHEN SEVERELY TESTED, MRS. HOKANSON NEVER LOST HER READY SMILE AND TRIUMPHANT FAITH. CASTING HER CARE ON GOD (1 PET. 5:7), SHE FOUND THAT HE ALWAYS TOOK THE BURDEN AND SUPPLIED THE NEEDED BLESSING.

MRS. HOKANSON WAS THE SOLE SUPPORT FOR HER MENTALLY RETARDED SON. EVENTUALLY, CHRONIC ARTHRITIS CONFINED HER TO BED. WHEN A CHURCH YOUTH GROUP WENT OVER TO MRS. HOKANSON'S HOUSE TO CHEER HER UP, THEY WERE AMAZED TO DISCOVER THAT SHE WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THEY INQUIRED, "NOW WHAT WILL YOU AND ARTHUR DO?" SHE GAVE HER USUAL QUIET, CONFIDENT RESPONSE, "THE LORD WILL PROVIDE."

WHEN MRS. HOKANSON DIED, MANY PEOPLE WONDERED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HER SON. BUT WHEN FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WENT HOME WITH ARTHUR AFTER THE FUNERAL, HE PROUDLY SHOWED THEM HIS COLLECTION OF STAMPS. INSTEAD OF TEARING THE STAMPS OFF THE ENVELOPES, HE HAD INTERCEPTED AND KEPT SCORES OF LETTERS INTENDED FOR HIS MOTHER AND LEFT THEM UNOPENED. MANY CONTAINED SUBSTANTIAL GIFTS--ENOUGH TO CARE FOR THE BOY FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

WHEN WE CAST ALL OUR CARES ON THE LORD, WE'LL BE AMAZED AT THE WONDROUS WAY HE PROVIDES!


WHEN DOUBT AND DISMAY WOULD ENFOLD YOU,

AND HOPE FOR RELIEF BECOMES DIM,

REMEMBER THAT SOMEONE HAS TOLD YOU

TO CAST ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM. --ANON


    OUR NEEDS CANNOT EXHAUST GOD'S SUPPLY

LET'S LOOK NOW AT THE KIND OF NEEDS GOD SUPPLIES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.