Welcome to God’s Credit Card

Rev. Shine Thomas

Introduction

We all have needs to be met on a daily basis. We have needs like food, clothing, shelter, education and so on. When we have a need we usually associate it with the money that we have. We feel if we have money we can meet all our needs. Suppose you we a need and we do not have the money to meet the need, what do we usually do? We usually borrow or take a loan or apply for a credit card.

Now what if in the midst of your needs God comes to you and hands over a credit card, no limits, no annual charges, no interest; and God tells that you can use as much money you want for fulfilling your daily needs. Would that make you happy?

This Sunday we are going to look at the God’s principles for meeting all our needs. God desires to meet all our needs and if we are in the principles of God all our needs will be met.

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-20
Key Passage: Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

God is promising that he will meet all our needs. To whom is this promise for? Is this promise for all believers or is it a promise for only some believers? We will look into it.

Now Apostle Paul established a lot of churches and he wrote letter to quite a number of churches. But to only one church Paul said that God is going to meet all their needs and he did not mention this promise to any other church. This church is the church at Philippi.

Therefore, we must understand that there was something special in the attitude of the Philippian believers and church that made Paul say this promise to them. Therefore, if we want all our needs to be met, if you want to have God’s credit card we will have to follow the pattern of the Philippian church and its believers.

Let us see what are the qualities needed in us for God to meet all our needs.

Philippians 4:10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

1. Be concerned for what God is concerned about

Apostle Paul is telling that the Philippian believers had been concerned about God’s work. That is why they were concerned about him and the missions he took up.

See what they did: Philippians 4:15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only.

The believers were not only concerned but when they had an opportunity to share their concern they did.

We are usually concerned about our needs and our circumstances but God wants us to be concerned about what He is concerned about the most. See what God is concerned about.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

This is the heartbeat of God.

Matthew 28:18-20 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

The mission of the church is to win souls. There are so many unreached people groups and unreached places to be won for Christ. That is the concern of God. If you are concerned about the lost you will get involved in missions and projects of the church. You will start giving to the church as the goal of the church is winning souls.

Philippians 4:11-13 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Paul is bringing our a great point here for mission giving and giving to God.

2. Find contentment in the Lord

Contentment is being satisfied with what you have. A man who wants to have more and more for himself will never give to others. A discontented Christian and a discontented church will never get involved in missions.

Some people believe in giving but they want to give after all their needs are met. I bet you can never give after all your needs are met. You will always have needs one after the other. City Harvest AG Church has needs, we need a big plot for the church, we need a vehicle for missions, we need to pay our staff well but in the midst of all our needs we will continue to give for missions. We will trust in God to provide our needs because our contentment is in the Lord.

Philippians 4:12 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Apostle Paul said he knew what it is to be in need and he knew what it is to have plenty. Need and Plenty – What is the difference, when are you in need, and when are you in plentitude? When we compare ourselves to people above us in living standards we are always in need. When we compare ourselves to people below us in living standards we always have plenty. Compared to some other churches in the city we are in need and our God will supply all our needs, but compared to the village churches and believers we always have plenty. Therefore we all can give because there are people who have less than us, especially in the villages.

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

When I am in Christ, God gives me the strength and he will provide my needs but I am always content in Christ, so I will give.

Philippians 4:14-16 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.''

3. Be committed in your Giving

If you want God to meet your needs we have to continue to give to God. Do not stop by giving only once. The Bible says the Philippian church gave for the gospel again and again. Be committed in your giving to God.

Now, what are we to give?

1. Give ourselves. Romans 12:1. Talents, Worship.
2. Give our time.
3. Give our money. 1. Offerings. 2. Tithe. 3. Missions.

Conclusion

Now if we give ourselves, our money, and our time based on these 3 principles let us see what God promises us. Philippians 4:17-20 17Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18I have received full payment and even more; 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. 19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

V17. Apostle Paul or God was not looking for a gift from them. Let me tell you, when I see you giving for the Lord I am not looking for a gift from you but through what you give I foresee what is being credited by God into your personal account.

God has an account book for every one of you and when you give to God, God credits a great amount into your personal account. Do you know what God credits? God credits health, joy, peace, long life, healing, protection, guidance, goodness, mercy, money, wealth, victorious living etc. as a complete package in your credit card account. You will find the unconditional favour of God through which you can meet all your needs.

Therefore if you chose to be concerned for what God is concerned about, if you are committed in your giving even if you do not have great money God will supernaturally meet your needs because you have the credit card of God. Amen.