When we are in tough situations it is good to turn to the word of God for comfort and encouragement. That is why the book of Psalms is so special. We read of the plights of the psalmist, particularly David when he is being pursued by Saul who wanted to kill him. Think of how special these words were to David and how special they can or should be to us when we face difficult circumstances:
Psalm 121:1–3 (ESV) — 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Psalm 46:1 (ESV) — 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 62:1–2 (ESV) — 1 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
When we need encouragement, we can see our circumstance in the book of Psalms. Likewise, when we need a word of encouragement, it’s good to unwrap the many promises in God’s word. Promises are meant to encourage our faith, to strengthen us when we face difficulty, and bolster our perseverance. One such promise was given to the Philippian church which supported the apostle Paul faithfully for over ten years. The really special note about the Philippian church, which was in Macedonia, was the fact that they were a relatively poor congregation and went through some difficult times.
2 Corinthians 8:1–5 (ESV) — 1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
Even so, Paul noted how they were the only church that supported him regularly and this they did even from the beginning of the church.
Philippians 4:15 (ESV) — 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
Now to the promise of God, given through the pen of an apostle first to the church at Philippi.
Philippians 4:19 (ESV) — 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Let’s break down this promise and see if we can’t apply it to our situation and be encouraged as we are from the Psalms.
First, note the personal pronoun of the apostle Paul in saying, “and my God.” This is what Martin Luther called the glory of the Gospel. Anyone can say the words, “Jesus loved sinners and died for them,” but it takes a person who has been touched by God’s grace to say, “He loved me and died for me.”
Galatians 2:20 (ESV) — 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV) — 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
Secondly, note a way of comparison. The church gave out of their poverty, thereby stretching themselves to support Paul in his mission to spread the Gospel and plant churches. On the other hand, consider the fact that God promises to supply all of their needs and do so according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Thirdly, consider the source of the abundant supply, “in Christ Jesus.” Every blessing we have is in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1:3–6 (ESV) — 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Ephesians 2:4–7 (ESV) — 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Stop and think about how Jesus is the “anti-stingy” expression of God. God demonstrated His vast love for us in sending His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:10 (ESV) — 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Romans 8:32 (ESV) — 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
By the way, just consider how Jesus demonstrated God’s way of supplying in abundance. When they ran out of wine, Jesus turned water into wine – not just a bottle or two but about 120 gallons worth. Twice when he fed the multitude from the loaves and fish, there were baskets upon baskets of leftovers. Do you think that He is stingy? Too many times we act like God is a miser that we have to try to get Him to come through.
Go back to the promise and be encouraged to ask, to seek, and to knock, knowing that it is He, God, Who has promised and your reminding Him is to honor His word.
Philippians 4:19 (ESV) — 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Reading, sharing, memorizing, and meditating upon God’s promises are a way of encouraging ourselves in the Lord, especially as we think of His promise with His capability.
Ephesians 3:20–21 (ESV) — 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
