Providence

There once was a little boy who kept on being told by his mom that he needed to eat his fruits and vegetables in order to have a healthy diet. The boy wanted to obey his mom so he tried his best to eat his fruit and vegetables… One day, though, the mom put spinach in front of the boy and that was the last straw. He finally asked his mom the question that had been on his brain for years and years: “Mom, why didn’t God put all the good vitamins and nutrients that are in spinach in ice cream?” He finally asked the question that we’ve all been wondering our entire lives! The best his mom could come up with is this verse from Scripture

Isaiah 55:8 CSB

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration.

For some reason - probably our health - God chose to make some things good for our bodies and some things bad for our bodies and even though we want to know the “why” - we know that God had a purpose and plan behind His action.

Throughout Philippians, we’ve seen that God has a plan. For whatever reason, God’s plan doesn’t always make sense to us, though. For Paul, God’s plan was for him to go into prison and to continue to preach the Gospel. To us that sounds like a strange plan! Yet, for Paul he simply trusted that God had him there for a reason. Whenever we approach our lives trusting in God’s perfect plan, we like Paul, can have joy in the midst of difficult situations. The main theme of Philippians is that of joy in Jesus and as we read this letter we get the feeling that Paul is writing from God’s palace rather than Caesar’s prison because he doesn’t sound defeated… He sounds joyful! Even though he and this church are facing genuine problems and persecution, this book shares with us to shift our gaze from our problem to our provider and to focus on His great salvation! As we run the race and walk worthy of the Gospel, He changes us. He replaces sadness with satisfaction. He replaces worry with peace. He replaces fear with faith.

As we conclude Philippians this morning, think of the ways that Jesus has provided for you throughout your life. The problem that the people of Israel often got into was that they forgot all the ways that God had provided for them in the past… May we not have that same problem today! What is a way that Jesus has provided for you? Let’s start really simple: You’re here this morning and those with us online are able to watch online on your computer or TV - Jesus provided breath in your lungs this morning and He provided the means for your to worship this morning! For those of you who have been born again and have repented of your sins and trusted in Christ as Lord, Jesus has provided salvation and He has given you a new heart! While there are some in our world who think that karma and luck rule the day, the Bible tells us a different story. The Bible tells us that God isn’t far off and distant from His creation - instead He is actively involved in the things going on in our lives and around our world. This is the idea of Providence - God is preserving His creation and guiding it towards His intended purposes. We see this in Scripture with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego as God provides and preserves them through the fiery furnace. We see this with Joseph as he was sold into Egyptian slavery by his brothers who meant that for evil but God meant it for good - God provided. We see this in Romans 8:28 as this truth is not just subject to some of us but that God promises to work all things for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

Aren’t you thankful that God continues to provide in our world today? Aren’t you thankful that it’s not karma or luck that is in charge? This morning let’s rejoice as we study from God’s Word and remind ourselves that our God rules and continues to provide.

Philippians 4:10–23 CSB

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. 11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship. 15 And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings. 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Because our God provides for us, our lives should be marked by several characteristics

God’s Provision Makes us Content (10-12)

What makes you content? Surveys show that most people believe that in order to be content, they need something that they don’t currently have… That they need more! For many, though, more things will simply lead to more problems and a larger void in their heart… Israel never did good in times of blessing! What material blessing often did was it revealed their heart and their desire for the things that God could give them rather than for God Himself. Things have a way of doing this in our life. We think that if we could just have this thing - if I could have this relationship, if I could have this achievement, if I could have this promotion, if I could have this reputation, if I could have this thing then I would have the happiness and satisfaction that I so desperately desire! What’s so interesting is that often the people who are content and satisfied are the ones who may not have the latest and greatest “thing” that’s out there. Here’s the problem: We desire to be content but we desire to have lots of things. What wins out in the end? We don’t like hearing this, but what if the solution to this problem is to reframe the question: Do we really know what we need?

As a teenager I felt like I needed a car. My birthday is in October so I didn’t have to wait too long into my Sophomore year to begin driving but that summer my best friend got his license and was able to drive us around and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world and that I needed to turn 16 just so that I could drive too. Fast forward a few months and October 17 comes around and I’m ready to go and take the test so that I can satisfy this itch I have to drive and be like my friends. Pass the test, get back home, drop my dad off, and I drive to FBC Ozark in my 25 year old Ford F-150 to show my friends that I finally have my license! It was fun to drive in that truck for the first time all by myself - I’m not going to lie! But whenever I got to the church I quickly remembered something. My friend had a much nicer and newer truck than I did. Suddenly my need wasn’t just to have a car but to have a nice one. Have you ever been in that type of situation before? You think that you need something only to find out that what you thought you needed, you didn’t really need as much as you thought? We think that we know all the answers but so often in life the things that we think will satisfy us or give us the answer we’re looking for simply fall short.

In our text Paul shares that he knows how to make do whenever he has a lot and whenever he has a little - whether he has lots of food or whether he’s scrapping by, whether he has lots of things or whether he has just a few things. He’s learned the secret to be content in every situation that he’s in. We’ll look at what that secret is in just a minute - but think about the principal that Paul is sharing here. He’s able to be content whether he has a 25 year old Ford F-150 or whether he has a 2022 Ford F-150. He’s learned how to be content whenever he doesn’t have enough money for fast food and whenever he’s had enough money to get the pricey top sirloin from the steakhouse. Isn’t this the exact opposite of our world? What basis does Paul have for being content in these situations?

He knows that God provides - God has provided in the past and Paul trusts that God will provide in the present and future as well. He has learned this over the years! Where did he learn it? He didn’t learn it in his Jewish past studying the law… He learned this through Christian discipleship and becoming more and more like Jesus who we could say was the most content person who ever walked this earth. What does it mean that Paul learned to be content? Simply this: Paul trusted that God placed him exactly where he was supposed to be. Paul could have been discontent while in prison - I think many of us would be discontent in such a place because we’d desire to be anywhere else! Yet, Paul was content and was at peace with where he was. He trusted that God, in His providence, had him in prison for a purpose. Once you have that idea in your DNA, you become a dangerous weapon in the Kingdom of God - once you learn to be content in Jesus Christ for everything, you can rejoice in the Lord at whatever comes your way just like Paul does in chapter 1.

Do you remember that back and forth? Possibly the guards threaten his life and Paul says, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” We’ll let you live - Paul rejoices because God has work for him to do. The guards threaten to torture him - Paul rejoices that he’s worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ. Do you see that this man learned the secret to being content not in things… but in a person? Paul trusted that God gave him exactly what he needed and that satisfied him unlike the best that this world has to offer.

God’s Provision Makes us Joy-full (13-14)

Not only was Paul content while enduring this hardship as verse 14 tells us… He rejoices in the Lord during this difficult time. Philippians 4:13 is just as inspired as every other verse in the Bible… yet for many Philippians 4:13 is their favorite verse in the entire Bible. We understand why whenever we look at it

Philippians 4:13 CSB

13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.

Praise the Lord - I’m ready to run through a brick wall because Jesus strengthens me. Think of the things that we use to strengthen ourselves. Athletes use weights. Construction workers use lumber and concrete. Students use equations. 1st time mothers and fathers use caffeine! We long to receive strength and as a Christian you and I are strengthened by none other than the Creator of the Universe - take that 5 hour energy! We LOVE Philippians 4:13… when it seems like it benefits us. We see people quote Philippians 4:13 often in our world and none more often than the world of athletics. A runner is getting ready to run a race and he puts Philippians 4:13 on his track cleats and he quotes this verse before he begins the race… Because after all, I can win this race because Jesus gives me strength. I can get this promotion at work because Jesus gives me strength. I can get an A on this exam that I didn’t study for because Jesus gives me strength. I can dunk a basketball because Jesus gives me strength… This is how our world uses this verse and it’s completely wrong. Paul isn’t talking about winning a race whenever he says this. He isn’t talking about getting a promotion. He isn’t talking about the positive, in fact… Because I’m just being honest with you all - the vast majority of you all will never dunk a basketball on a 10 foot goal. You can “claim” Philippians 4:13 all you want but it ain’t going to happen! Our world loves to take this verse and rip it out of its context and this is why we study the Bible instead of get it theology from Facebook and coffee mugs.

Look throughout the book of Philippians and you see the context of this verse. Think about this: Have you ever heard an athlete quote Philippians 4:13 after they lose a football game by a field goal as time expired? Can you lose with dignity through Jesus who gives you strength? Can you walk through the valley of the shadow of death alongside your Good Shepherd because He gives you strength? Can you have hope in the midst of uncertainty because Jesus gives you strength? You’d better believe so! We undercut the goodness and power of our God whenever we only think that we can win because of Jesus… No, because of Jesus you can lose and you can suffer and you can have your name slandered through the mud and smile… Because He gives you strength. Paul is in prison and this church is being persecuted and his encouragement is to endure suffering because Jesus gives you the strength. If Paul said that death is gain for a Christian, surely we can stand losing as we trust in Jesus. Why? Because God provides in the highs and in the lows… His provision makes us full of joy regardless of the result!

How can you have joy in the midst of losing and suffering? Because you know that God’s power is greater. Romans 8:38-39

Romans 8:38–39 CSB

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Whenever your joy is found in Jesus Christ and you are abiding in His perfect will for your life, you will have joy, contentment, and confidence that your God is with you, for you, and will see you through the sufferings of this life not for your convenience but for His glory! Paul is so preoccupied with Jesus that his situation doesn’t faze him. This is the secret to true joy: when you focus on Jesus, unending joy becomes your reality.

God’s Provision Makes us Faithful (15-17)

If you know that you’re in Christ and that God has provided and promises to provide for you, you remain faithful to His calling upon your life. For Paul this meant continuing to minister to churches in need… For the church in Philippi, though, this meant financially giving to support Paul’s Gospel ministry. There seems to be 2 extremes whenever it comes to giving in the church - you have some who only talk about giving and this is what many non-Christians think that church is all about… My grandfather believed this for years as he would tell my dad that the church is only after your money and he said this because he had a pastor who talked about money just about every Sunday. While that might be the stereotype, in actuality the opposite is usually true. So many in the church are afraid to talk about money and they never broach the subject. Are you ready to possibly get uncomfortable? The Bible talks about money! So long as I am blessed to serve as your senior pastor we are going to study what the Bible says. This means that we’re going to study a lot about salvation, grace, deliverance, providence, joy, hope, sin, repentance, disobedience, family, relationships, and yes, money! Consider what the Bible tells us about our money… The Bible doesn’t say anything about our money - the Bible says that it all belongs to God and He gives it to us to steward wisely.

This church in Philippi was a poor church. This isn’t to point fingers in a nasty way, they simply didn’t have a lot of excess when it came to their finances - Paul has just shared that he knows how to be content in times of need and this church unquestionably knew that secret as well because they had needs! 2 Cor 8:2-3

2 Corinthians 8:2–3 CSB

2 During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord,

Have you ever asked yourself why do people give? From a purely mathematical standpoint this doesn’t make much sense. Times are hard and they are tight… Why would I give when I can barely get by myself? I’ve asked that question! Whenever Lindsey and I first got married times were tight. It seemed like there were months where we genuinely didn’t have enough money in our checking account to pay for rent, utilities, gas, and food. Are you ready for a timeless truth that I was taught as a kid that has proven true over and over in my life? When you faithfully give to the Lord out of obedience and joy, 90% goes further than 100%. How does that make sense? In our world 100 > 90, after all! Yet, somehow, God blesses and provides whenever we put Him first… This doesn’t mean that you’ll make more money, but whenever you put God first in all aspects of your life, things just work out as God provides. This principal works its way down too - my grandmother has told me numerous times that she used to be rigid about 10% even though they were blessed financially… In her later years she’s learned that she doesn’t need 90%. She can do just fine on 70% and she can give 30% to her local church and other ministries. Friends, God has faithfully provided for us and expects us to be faithful with what we have been given.

Are you ready for something you’ll never hear another pastor say? God doesn’t need you and he doesn’t need your money. The Kingdom of God exploded as ordinary, relatively poor, faithful Christians sacrificed to share the Gospel. God doesn’t need us but He wants us to be faithful - rather, He commands us to be faithful. He commands us to follow after Him and one of the ways that we do that is through giving. As we faithfully give, we do so not to feel better about ourselves but to seek the profit that God will bring about. Paul wasn’t about becoming a megachurch pastor with multi-million dollar book deals and flying around the Roman world on a gulfstream private jet… Paul was about the Kingdom increase that he believed would come along whenever God’s people sacrificially gave so that the Gospel could be faithfully proclaimed. I pray that we would look back at all the times God was faithful in our lives to provide and we’d look at our entire lives, mind, heart, hands, feet, and bank account and that we could honestly say that I’m being faithful to put Jesus first. Not just that I do something for Jesus… But that I give Jesus my best just as He desires! Not because it’s easy… But because that’s what I want to do… And if you don’t desire to give back to the Lord, maybe that’s a sign that there’s something else that you are seeking first.

They say that hurt people hurt people… In the Bible we read that loved people love people. Forgiven people forgive people. Blessed people bless people. Finally we see that thankful people thank people…

God’s Provision Makes us Thankful (18-23)

Specifically, we thank the Lord for who He is and what He has done. Because of God’s provision through this church, Paul shares that he has an abundance. The only response left for Paul is to give thanks - and this must be our response whenever God provides. Sometimes God provides for our needs in obvious ways - maybe you’re going through a hard time financially and someone provides you with the assistance that you need. Maybe you’re struggling emotionally and someone simply offers a word of encouragement in your time of need. God provides for us. Other times it happens in less obvious ways… Has God ever provided for you by shutting a door that you desperately wanted open? About 1 1/2 years ago there was a church that I was very familiar with and they were looking for a senior pastor. I knew some people in the area and felt encouraged to reach out. This seemed like an obvious door that God had opened up and even though we weren’t really looking to go anywhere, as we prayed we felt like God might be ready to move us. This felt like it was a perfect fit and that God had opened up every door… Yet nothing happened. This was confusing and I’d be lying if I said that it was easy to understand God’s plan in those weeks… Yet, God provided as He shut that door. Sometimes God provides as He shuts the doors we’d love to jump through. Have you ever been there? You think that something is working out or that something you really want is about to finally be yours and for whatever reason, God says no?

Been there - dealt with that. It can be hard in the moment… But here’s the truth as we’ve seen throughout Philippians. God never promises to give us what we want… He continuously promises to give us what we need. Not what we think we need… But what He knows that we need! How can God make such a promise in Philippians 4:19? Because He’s got the goods to get it done. He is the all-sufficient, all-powerful, Creator of all things who makes good on His promises. That truth should make you and I thankful as His followers. Whether God opens a door or whether He closes one, we have every reason to be thankful because God knows best and He will meet our needs as only He can do. God will supply our need, not our greed. You can’t go up to God with your shopping list of wants and desires and expect Him to be your vending machine and give you exactly what you want. That’s Will Smith from Aladdin - not the God of the Bible. Yet, you can rest confidently knowing that He will give you exactly what you need to continue to glorify Him and trust in His plan.

Consider how God had provided for His people in this letter. God provided joy for Paul in prison. He provided him with people who cared for him and met his physical needs. He provided for the church in Philippi as they were given unity and strength in the middle of opposition and persecution. Look at verse 22 - Paul concludes this letter by saying that the saints who belong to Caesar’s household send their greetings. What does this mean? Not even the power of persecution and the Roman Emperor himself could stop the Gospel from spreading and the Kingdom of God from advancing. Church, our God provides! He has promised to build His church and nothing can stop the Gospel from advancing and lives being changed as a result.

Conclusion

The Bible is clear… God will provide. Not just sometimes but in each and every situation, He will come through!

Romans 8:28 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

At this point we need to bring this truth to our individual lives. It’s one thing to hear stories about God providing for others and to read about it in the Bible… Let’s get real this morning: Do you believe that God will provide for you?

Whether you find yourself on the mountain high or the valley low, as a Christian Jesus promises to walk with you through whatever season you’re in and to be with you until the end. Philippians 1:6 shared with us that Jesus finished the work that He starts - He’s not going to hang you out to dry!

As we conclude this study with this sermon, let’s make sure that we apply its truths to our lives not just for today but for the rest of our lives

5 Key’s to Having Paul’s “Philippians” Joy

Give Thanks to God - Philippians 1:3

Live as Citizens of Heaven - Philippians 1:21-27

Humble Yourself just as Christ Did - Philippians 2:1-11

Remember You’re a Work in Progress - Philippians 3:12-14

Be Content With What God Gives You - Philippians 4:10-13

These things aren’t easy to do. It’s easy to complain, live as citizens of earth, boast in ourselves, think that we’ve arrived, and to desire what we want rather than what God gives us… However, God’s way is the best way. His Word is right. God’s plan for our life won’t look like ours… And that’s ok because His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. God has placed us where we are at in order to bring glory to Him in all that we do. God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him in times of loss… not in seasons of prosperity. Wherever you’re at, friend, give thanks to God and proclaim His Gospel to those around you so that they might have the hope that only Jesus can bring! Remember that you can do all the things that God calls you to do because He will provide you with the strength to accomplish His good purposes - trust in His plan today!

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