Philippians 4:15-16 Now ye 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.  For even in Thessalonica ye sent once again unto my necessity.  Not because I desire a gift; but I desire fruit that may abound in your account.

Paul was a missionary and he depended upon his finances to come from support from the church.  It is always good to be involved in the mission work of the church.  We cannot all be on the frontline as preachers, beaconing people to Christ, but we can all be workers. together.  Paul says, "When we work together as a group, we all take part in a blessing."  That is why it is so important for us to support Christian radio.  To support the gospel message that is being sent out makes us eligible for the rewards of this work.  In order to be a part of the reward, we must be a part of the service.  When you pray for the preacher or the workers and God prospers through them, you become a part of God's reward.  Don't ever think when you are doing work for the church it is in vain.  God bless those who do His work.  So let us all work together in supporting God through our missionaries.  Paul says there will be fruit added to our account.

In verse 18 Paul is speaking of a man he called brother earlier in the book of Philippians.  In Chapter 2 the Bible tells how this soldier risked his own life to fulfill his obligation and bring the gift to Paul.  Paul said, "I received of Epaphroditus the things that were sent from you and they were as an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, and well-pleasing to God."

Did you know that whatever you do for God He receives it as a sweet sacrifice?  Some of our church folks went to the nursing home this past Saturday and had service with the patients.  Let me tell you something -- God received that as a sweet sacrifice.  It did not go unnoticed from God.

The key verse in the message is verse 19: But my God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

There is a phrase we pass around in church: "Divine Providence, or the Providential hand of God.  What do these phrases mean?  Let me break it down for you like this:

• Divine -- pertaining to the true God

• Providence -- the care that the Creator exercises over His creation

God is not only the Creator; He is the sustainer.  He did not create the world and then leave it spinning around in space.  God is actively involved in our everyday life.  Paul said, "My God shall supply my need."  God is actively aware of exactly what each of us is going through.  He knows the valley you are going through, the illness you are fighting and the financial problem you may have.  God is also a Maintainer; He maintains His creation.  He has everything in control.  Everything that comes our way is approved by God.  Nothing can come to us unless it comes across God's desk first.  God is in control.  He will always be in control.

Matthew 5:45.…That ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.

God is the provider, so He has the whole world in His capable hands; the house we live in, and the car we drive came from God and not from the government or our good looks.  God will give you just enough air for one day at a time.  Remember how He fed the five thousand men with the dinner of a small boy -- and that wasn’t counting the women and children.  He supplied their need for the day.  If you had one wish what would you wish for? We can ask for wealth, health, a cure for cancer, the end of the war, or the end of terror; but the one thing we need more than anything else in this world is the grace of God.  With all the wealth this world could offer, if we missed Heaven we have missed it all.

• I need daily grace. Just as He has His eye upon the sparrow, I need to know He has His eyes upon me.

• I need overcoming grace.  The devil is raging! If we are not very careful, he will beat us down.

• We need forgiving grace, the grace to forgive and not carry a grudge against others.  The Christian way is to forgive those who may hate your guts. Remember what Jesus said from the cross?  “Father, forgive them.”  If Jesus can say those words after what He went through, surely, we can forgive our brother. To hold a grudge will destroy your joy for life.

• I need sustaining grace, something that will stay with us. When everything and everyone else walks away, God is there with His sustaining love and grace.

• We need loving grace, joy unspeakable, and full of glory. There were times when our daughter Ashley was living when people reached out with love and helped us get through things that we felt was impossible situations. 

• We will need dying grace… When I lay my head down for the last time, I will not have to be afraid for I know He will help me over the crossing.  I will fear no evil for thou art with me.  Everything in my life revolves around God’s grace.  I can tinker around with some chemicals and by accident come up with a cure for the Pink eye. (Bro. Drake, don’t you laugh at me!)   I could eventually do many things; but there is one thing I cannot do…I cannot give myself grace.  My grace comes from God.

God has a storehouse full of blessings and when you become a Christian, you are invited to take from His pantry anytime you have a need. You ask, “What can we find in His pantry?”

There is healing, there are miracles, there is love, there is forgiveness, and there is infinite knowledge in God’s storehouse.  There is also abundant joy in the Father’s storehouse. He supplies an abundant life in the storehouse.  “I am come that they might have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”

There is power in God’s storehouse.  Ephesians 3:20.  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

God’s storehouse has everything you need, and being His child gives you the right to raid His refrigerator.

JR. Fields, Pastor
February 10, 2008

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You may also listen to Pastor Fields on WDFB -- 88.1FM OR 1170AM

 This page last updated: 05/14/08