GOD WILL MEET OUR NEEDS

SERIES: PRACTICAL FAITH

TEXT: 2 Cor. 9:6-13; Philippians 4:19

One of the greatest promises in the Bible is found in Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippian church, “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”-Phil. 4:9.

However there are many who say they have needs and that haven’t been met like physical needs, financial, social and spiritual needs.  Such people say, “If God shall supply all our needs, why aren’t mine being met?”

When this question starts becoming frequent, then we have a faith problem because this has nothing to do with God and His ability, but it has everything to do with our faith and trust in God. Faith and trust go together, that God knows what He is doing and what we need and what is best for our lives.

We must settle it in our minds and hearts that God is holy, righteous and just. There is no evil intent in God nor is there any variation or turning-James 1:17, All His promises in Christ Jesus are yes and True-2nd Cor. 1:20.

If that is then the case, then how do we answer the question that if God desires to supply all our needs, why do we have so many needs? The answer is that with many of God’s promises there are premises that is there’s a condition to be met.

God says “If you will do this, then I will do it.” These are known as the “If-then” promises of God. A good example of this principle is found in the revival verse in 2nd Chron. 7:14, “If my people who are called by His name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins and heal their land.”

In the above verse, God says if we do four things, He will do three things.

If we humble, pray, seek, turn then God will hear, forgive and heal.

The problem why we aren’t seeking the fulfilment is that we’re not fulfilling part.

In Philippian 4:19, God promises to supply our needs not our wants, our needs not our greed. 

Let us look at what the Apostle Paul says by looking at the principle, the procedure and the promise (3 D’s)-2nd Cor. 9:6-13.

THE PRINCIPLE.

• • Do you have a need? Then plant a seed.

• “But this I say; he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”-2nd Cor. 9:6.

• When a farmer looks at a barren field and wants to have a crop, he doesn’t just talk about it, nor does he complain that there’s a crop. Instead he begins to plant seed. In other words, until the farmer sows some seeds, no crop is ever going to grow.
• To have a harvest we have to first plant.
• Until we sow the seeds of faith, we will never harvest God’s blessings.
• For example, if we have two farmers who are in debt, they both have a sack of seeds.
• One farmer says, “this is all the seeds I have, so I am not going to plant any of them because I plant them, they are gone.”
• The other farmer says, “the only way I am going to get out of debt is to spread out this seed so that it can bring back more.” That is this principle in a nutshell.
• Giving is a test of faith, giving is God’s way of receiving-Isaiah 55:8-9.
• The principle of giving is God’s way of increasing our faith.
• When we give to others, God will give back to us even more.
• Man’s way of getting out of debt is to borrow from the lender or charge it on our credit card. If we can’t afford it, then charge it and delay the inevitable.
• Another man’s way of getting out debt is to work harder, take a second job, work overtime or in the case of some, get involved in illegal activities.
• But God says, that is not my plan. It is true we must work hard, but God’s plan is “when we have a need sow some seed.”
• The more seed we sow, the bigger the harvest will be.
• Sow a little, reap a little, sow a lot, reap a lot. When we have a need, we need to plant a seed.
• Many people say, “when I get out of debt then I will start to give.” This never works.
• God’s plan says, “Start to give and I will help you get out of debt.”
• When we follow God’s plan, which begins with tithe, then statement of faith that we make to our friends and family is that we believe in God and His word.
• The principle of sowing and reaping is not just in the area of finances, but it extends to every area of our lives.
• Whatever you sow, the same you will receive back.
• If you give love, love will be returned to you.
• If you sow anger, criticism and malice, then that is exactly what you can expect in return.
• This principle says, if you give more, you will receive more multiplied.
• Faith is like a muscle, you build muscles by using muscles-Matt. 16:25.
• The principle out of God’s word is that when we have a need, we need to plant the seed.

THE PROCEDURE:

• • Give with the right attitude.
  • When it comes to our needs, the way it works is through having a right attitude.

• “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart and not grudgingly or necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver”-2nd Cor. 9:7.

• First, we need to know that God doesn’t need our money.
• God owns it all anyway, so the money we have really isn’t ours to begin with, it is His.
• God gave it to us to use only for a while and then He is going to give it to somebody else.
• The money we have, whether little or a lot is really on loan from God.
• Many people spend most of their lives on earth thinking about money.
• They plan for it, save it, spend it, worry about it and use it. Money is a big part of our lives.
• The part that money occupy in our lives is the same part God wants to occupy-Matt. 6:21.
• God wants us to have the right attitude about money and things-Mark 12:43-44.
• So, then what are the attitudes we are to possess when it comes to our giving?

Give thoughtfully-“As he purposes in his heart.”

Give enthusiastically-“Not grudgingly.”

• “Enthusiastic” is in them” to be filled with God in our giving.
• Give with excitement-happily.

Give voluntarily-“Not of necessity.”

• Don’t give under pressure, but in obedience to God’s word, not pressured by others.

Give cheerfully, God loves a cheerful giver.” Cheerfully means “hilaros”=”hilarious.”

• The Bible does not say, “Give until it hurts” rather give because it feels good to obey God’s word.

1. Remember it all comes   from God-2nd Cor. 9:10.
2. Remember God’s guarantee-Luke 6:38.

• Paul had the same idea-2nd Cor. 9:11.

1. Remember God’s eternal rewards-2nd Cor. 9:9.

THE PROMISE:

• The first part of the promise is-

Expect God to meet our needs-2nd Cor. 9:8.

• When we give, when we plant the seed of faith with the right attitude, then God promises all grace will abound towards us and that we will have sufficiency in all things.
• God will keep His promise, when I keep His word.
• How can we trust with our eternal salvation if we cannot trust Him with our finances?
• How can we trust God to save us, forgive us and to keep us to heaven, if we can’t depend on Him to keep His word?

The second part of the promise is giving is s test of faith-2nd Cor. 9:13.

• God gives us a lesson and a test-Malachi 3:10-11.
• When we give the way God has outlined for us, He will open up the windows of heaven, He will also rebuke the devourer at the same time.
• The devourer is disclosed by prophet-Haggai 1:5-6.

CONCLUSION

• • The greatest thing we can give to God isn’t money or possessions, rather it’s ourselves-Romans 12:1.

• “My God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus-Phil. 4:19.