[0:00] Good morning and thank you very much for listening in to today's service. I'm delighted to be with you for the two services today and we hope that you've all had a good week.
[0:11] As we go into a new week, we do so in the joy and hope of our risen Saviour, Jesus Christ. We're going to begin with Psalm 121 from the Scottish Psalter.
[0:24] I'll read these words. I to the hills will lift mine eyes, from whence doth come mine aid. My safety cometh from the Lord, whom heaven and earth hath made.
[0:37] Thy foot he'll not let slide, nor will he slumber that thee keeps. Behold, he that keeps Israel, he slumbers not, nor sleeps. The Lord thee keeps, the Lord thy shade, on thy right hand doth stay.
[0:51] The moon by night thee shall not smite, nor yet the sun by day. The Lord shall keep thy soul, he shall preserve thee from all ill. Henceforth thy going out and in, God keep for ever will.
[1:07] The whole psalm to God's praise. The tune is French. I to the hills will lift mine eyes, from whence doth come my aid.
[1:26] My safety cometh from the Lord, who heaven and earth hath made.
[1:40] The earth hath made. I hurt him, not that sight of will, he slumber that he keeps.
[1:54] Behold, he that keeps Israel, he slumbers not, nor sleeps.
[2:09] The Lord he keeps the Lord thy shame, on thy right hand doth stay.
[2:23] The moon by night thee shall not smite, nor yet the sun by day.
[2:37] The Lord shall keep thy soul, he shall preserve thee from all ill.
[2:52] Henceforth thy goal without hand in, God keep forever with.
[3:07] Let us pray together. Dear God our Father, we thank you so much that we can come to you and worship you.
[3:21] And that as we enter into a new week, we do so knowing that your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ is risen. What joy and hope and comfort that that gives us.
[3:33] That you sent your Son to seek and to save the lost. To bring light in darkness. To bring life out of death.
[3:44] To bring hope where there is much pain and sorrow. We thank you so much for the amazing difference that you have made to the whole of history and to our lives through your Son, our Lord Jesus.
[3:58] And we pray as we worship you today and as we go into a new week, that we would do so with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
[4:10] We thank you Father that you are such a patient and gracious God. We thank you that you know our needs. And we thank you that you have made so many precious promises to us in your word.
[4:22] We confess that so often we doubt you. So often we think that we know better. So often we go our own way. And we pray Father that you would turn us back to you.
[4:37] So that we would walk with you. And look to you. And listen to you more and more. Help us to grow in our faith. Help us to trust you with every part of our lives.
[4:50] And help us to live out every single day. In a way that is honouring to you. That whether we are alone with no one seeing us. Or whether we are out and about.
[5:01] We are under people's eyes. We pray that wherever we are. That we would seek to glorify and honour your name. In our thoughts, our words and our actions.
[5:15] We pray for everyone connected with the congregation in Caldionish. And we thank you for them. And we just pray that you would watch over them. And encourage them as they continue to serve you.
[5:26] And as they press on together through these strange and difficult days. We pray that they would know your blessing and encouragement. As they serve you in all the different callings that you have for us.
[5:40] We pray for any who are particularly anxious or worried at this time. Or those facing pressures at home or at work. Or in whatever it may be. We pray that you would just meet us all at our point of need.
[5:53] And that your word would speak to us today. And that it would help equip us for the week ahead. And to nourish us so that we can grow in our faith. And we pray too for the many that we know and love who do not know you.
[6:07] And we pray that you would be at work in people's hearts. We pray that the witness of your church would just grow ever stronger in the days ahead.
[6:19] And we pray that you would be drawing people to trust in you. And that you would use your people in every way possible to share the good news of Jesus. Through our words and through the way in which we live our lives.
[6:31] Help us to be salt and light in a world that so desperately needs you. So we just pray that your blessing would be upon the wider community. And we pray that in everything that you would just be working to draw people to trust in Jesus.
[6:46] So we ask that your blessing would be upon each one listening in today. And we ask that your blessing would be upon your word. As we read it together now. And as we think about it for a few minutes.
[6:57] We pray that your word would be written on our hearts. And that it would shape all that we do. So please have mercy on us oh God. And please lead us in your ways we pray. In Jesus name.
[7:08] Amen. Our reading today is from Philippians chapter 4. Philippians 4 and we'll read the whole chapter.
[7:22] Therefore my brethren dearly beloved and longed for. My joy and crown. So stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved. I beseech Iodias.
[7:33] I beseech Syntyche. That they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also through Yokefellow. To help these women which laboured with me in the gospel. With Clement also.
[7:44] And with my other fellow labourers. Whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men.
[7:57] The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing. But in everything by prayer and supplication. With thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding.
[8:11] Shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally brethren. Whatsoever things are true. Whatsoever things are honest. Whatsoever things are just.
[8:22] Whatsoever things are pure. Whatsoever things are lovely. Whatsoever things are of good report. If there be any virtue. If there be any praise. Think on these things.
[8:34] Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me. Do. And the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly.
[8:45] That now at the last. Your care of me hath flourished again. Wherein ye were also careful. But ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want. For I have learned in whatever state I am.
[8:57] Therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased. And I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things. I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry. Both to abound.
[9:08] And to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding. Ye have done well. That ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also.
[9:20] 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. You sent once and again unto my necessity.
[9:33] Not because I desire a gift. But I desire fruit. That may abound to your account. But I have all and abound. I am full. Having received of Epaphroditus.
[9:45] The things which were sent from you. An odour of a sweet smell. A sacrifice acceptable. Well pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need.
[9:56] According to his riches in glory. By Christ Jesus. Now unto God our Father. Be glory forever and ever. Amen. Salute every saint in Christ Jesus.
[10:08] The brethren which are with me greet you. All the saints salute you. Chiefly they that are of Caesar's household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be with you all.
[10:19] Amen. This is God's word. And may he add his blessing to it. God's promise. I would like us this morning and this evening.
[10:31] To think a little bit about God's promises. In scripture we are given many precious promises from God. And today I want us at both our services to think about two of these.
[10:43] Tonight we will look at God's promise of peace. This morning I'd like us to think a little bit about God's promise to provide.
[10:55] And as we do so we can think about the words of verse 19 in Philippians chapter 4. Which I'll read again but I'll start at verse 18.
[11:06] But I have all and abound and full having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you. An odour of a sweet smell. A sacrifice acceptable. Well pleasing to God.
[11:18] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory. By Christ Jesus. And as we think about these promises I want to just ask four simple questions.
[11:32] That will be our headings just now. Question one. What does the promise tell us about God? Number two. What does the promise tell us about ourselves?
[11:44] Number three. What is God promising? And number four. What does God require of us? So first of all. Let's ask the question.
[11:55] What does this promise tell us about God? That of course is a good question to ask of any text.
[12:06] In the Bible when you go to a passage you want to ask yourself what is this teaching us about God? But how do we answer that question? Well one of the things that you can do that's helpful is to look at really the key words and phrases that appear in a text or a passage.
[12:26] And think about what lies behind those words. So let's do that for verse 19. You can see that there's lots of wonderful phrases there.
[12:38] All of which are in many ways signposts to many of God's qualities. So we'll just go through some of them one by one. You see it says but my God shall supply.
[12:50] These words shall supply. Behind those two words lies the incredible truth that God is kind. Because when it says that God will supply it's expressing the idea of giving.
[13:06] Supplying is just the action of providing for the needs of others. And when that's been used to speak about the action of God it's reminding us that God is generous.
[13:18] He will supply. And that's a great reminder that God is a supplier long before he is ever a demander.
[13:30] It's so easy to think of God as demanding. We think of God and we think he expects this. He expects that. He's kind of demanding all sorts of stuff from us. But if you look at the Bible you'll see that God gives out before he demands anything back.
[13:45] In creation God makes, God supplies, God resources, God builds, God establishes. God gives and gives and gives.
[13:56] And the very fact that we exist is testimony to his life-giving generosity. But not only in creation also in redemption. In God's work of salvation he is an abundant giver.
[14:07] Because at the heart of the gospel is grace. And it's all an amazing reminder that God is not stingy and God is not selfish. He is an amazing giver.
[14:18] He is kind and generous. He's the God who supplies. And then straight after that it says that he shall supply all your need.
[14:30] Now that wee word all is such a brilliant word. You think of everything that you need on a day-to-day basis. You need air, clothes, water, food, heating, transport, public safety, medicine, electricity, friends, fun, exercise.
[14:48] How many of these things does God care about? Every single one of them. And ultimately every single provision in our lives comes from him.
[14:59] My father-in-law quite often over the years will take his mobile phone out of his pocket. And he'll say, I still can't believe that everything in this phone actually comes from the ground.
[15:15] This thing in my hand is made from the ground. From stuff that we dig up. And of course it's true because every material resource we enjoy, every technological advancement of humanity, every piece of machinery or infrastructure that we have, all comes from what God has provided in the earth.
[15:37] It can all be traced back to one biblical doctrine. Creation. We have it all because we have a creator. Every need of humanity is met because God is concerned about every detail.
[15:53] And that of course is a great reminder that we should praise God for all the everyday things that we enjoy in our lives. But it doesn't just say every need, all your need.
[16:08] It's your need. And that word your is brilliant because it's telling us that God is attentive not just to the whole world in general, but to you in particular.
[16:21] And we must never think that God is so caught up with keeping the planets turning or keeping cells dividing or keeping the sun nuclear fissioning or whatever it is that it does, that with all that going on, he's not aware of your specific needs.
[16:36] Because alongside all the high energy physics of the universe and all the complex delicacy of microbiology and all the other stuff that God is sustaining, he never for a moment takes his eyes off you.
[16:51] So God can keep all the wheels of the universe turning while you go and sit on his lap and say, I need help to write this difficult email.
[17:04] That word your is telling you that God knows you and is attentive to your needs. The next phrase we have is according to.
[17:17] And that's another brilliant phrase. It tells us that God has a certain way of doing things. God is not inconsistent or unpredictable or capricious or changeable or wobbly.
[17:28] He is absolutely consistent. He always sticks to his way of doing things. And that means that his actions can never, ever have a bad motive.
[17:40] So he's never kind, but with some kind of hidden agenda. He's never attentive just because he wants to get something out of you. And he is never providing in a half-hearted way.
[17:50] He's always operating on the basis of according to. According to the fact that he is the God of eternal, uncompromising, never changing holiness, fairness, wisdom, gentleness and indescribable love.
[18:07] Sometimes when you see people do things, you know, what they do might look quite good. But if you dig into their motives, you sometimes discover that actually, you know, their motives aren't as good as your first impression may be implied.
[18:21] But if you could dig into God's motives, you will just find layer after layer after layer of goodness. And it's according to that character that he acts.
[18:37] And of course, that means that God is not swayed by, he's not swayed according to our nonsense. Because so often, what we think are our needs are actually according to the complete nonsense that humanity tends to go chasing after.
[18:57] So we might talk about things that we need. So we'll say things like, I need new clothes. I need to check my phone. I need to watch strictly. I need a drink.
[19:08] And yet so many of these things that we think we need are just chasing after things that don't really matter. And thankfully, God is not like that.
[19:23] And then going through the verse a little bit further, it says, God shall supply all your need according to his riches. He supplies according to his riches.
[19:35] Now that's a brilliant reminder that God is rich, incredibly rich. But when we say that, we don't mean in a sense of being kind of greedy or loaded. We mean in a sense that he is so abundantly well resourced.
[19:49] In other words, God can provide because he has every resource he needs. There's a great description of that in Psalm 50 verse 10. It says, Every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
[20:02] And that makes perfect sense because God is creator. Everything is his. And from that abundance, he provides. But it's not just material stuff that God has.
[20:14] What's even more amazing is the depth of riches when it comes to his attributes. So when it comes to patience, God is a trillionaire. He never runs out.
[20:25] When it comes to protection, God is the Lord of hosts, the commander of the armies of heaven. When it comes to love, God is an endless ocean. And the resources that God has means that he should never be confined to a small part of our lives.
[20:43] It's so easy to do that, to keep God in kind of this wee section of our lives that he kind of comes into the religious bit. And that maybe, you know, maybe for a wee while in the mornings or maybe on a Sunday or whatever, you know, we give God a bit of attention, but we think, you know, he should just stay in that, you know, just in that section of our lives.
[21:02] That is such a massive waste of God's resources. Does God have the resources to help you at work tomorrow? Does God have the resources to get you through your exams?
[21:15] Does he have the resources to carry you through an illness? Does he have the resources to help you reconcile with someone you've fallen out with? Does he have the resources to help you raise your family or to support elderly parents?
[21:26] Too right he does. He has all these riches from which he's able to supply our needs. And then at the end, it says that these riches are in glory by Christ Jesus.
[21:41] And I'll come back to those words a bit more in a moment. So all a great reminder that God is kind and generous. He's attentive to details. He's concerned for our needs.
[21:52] And he is abundantly well-resolved. But there's one more brilliant word in this version. It's one of the smallest ones. It's the word my.
[22:02] Paul could say, and you can say if you're a Christian or if you become one, and I can say that this abundantly kind and resourceful and sensible and attentive God is ours.
[22:17] Not in the sense that we own him, but in the sense that we are his. We have a relationship with him. So it's not like saying my car. It's like saying my dad.
[22:29] And that, of course, makes you so, so special if you're a Christian. But that, of course, is bringing us to our second question, which is, what does this promise teach us about ourselves?
[22:46] Well, I want to say two things here. The first thing I want to say is that it's reminding us that we are needy. The fact that we have needs is a great reminder that we're not self-sufficient.
[23:00] We're not independent and we are not all powerful. In fact, we're incredibly reliant on a huge number of things that we can't provide for ourselves. We're all needy. We need stuff.
[23:11] But two issues arise when we think about that. The first is the question, well, what do we really need? And that's a question that humanity so often gets wrong.
[23:22] And we pour huge amounts of energy into stuff that we really don't need at all. I've lost count of the amount of times in my life I've thought, I've seen something that I want to buy and I've thought to myself, I really need that.
[23:36] And you think that if you get it, then you'll have a sense of completeness that you've just never had before. But if you just get this, then it'll be fine. And yet it never satisfies. I remember once, I don't know if anybody here is, I'm about 38.
[23:50] And so I was a child in the 90s. And I don't know if anyone listening is of that similar age. But when I was about maybe 10 or 11, the coolest thing that you could get was a pair of Air Jordan boots.
[24:01] And I remember getting a pair thinking that these were just incredible. And yet I was so nervous of them, I never wore them.
[24:13] And so I ended up growing out of them, having hardly used them. And it was so daft. But this thing that I really wanted ended up not even being used.
[24:24] And I've done that so many times in my life. And I'm sure you've done the same. We always go after stuff that we don't really need at all. But the second issue is maybe an even more serious one. Is that when it comes to the stuff that we really do need, we try to meet those needs in the wrong way.
[24:42] So we do have material needs. We need food and clothes and money and cars and things like that. But we can so easily meet those needs by being selfish and greedy.
[24:53] We need friendship and laughter. But we can so easily think that the way to really find that is by drinking too much. We need intimacy. But it's so easy to look for that in immoral ways.
[25:09] We need purpose. But we can try to meet that need by making an idol of something, whether it's work or football or our achievements at school or university or whatever it may be.
[25:21] Our neediness can be a very subtle trap, can't it? And the result of that is that neediness can make us very demanding. So we think we want this or that.
[25:33] And we get annoyed when our needs aren't met. And then we can resent what other people have. And it's an incredibly easy thing to do. You can look at someone else's car or their house or their clothes or whatever and think, Oh, you know, it's not fair that I don't have that.
[25:50] But the crucial thing that we have to remember is that our needs are not meant to make us demanding. Instead, our needs are to show us that we are dependent.
[26:04] And that's the second main thing we learn about ourselves. So we first of all learn that we're needy. And secondly, we learn that we are dependent. Often, and it's especially through today, often humanity is happy to be needy, but not happy to be dependent.
[26:23] So we kind of live in this sort of strange culture today where we're surrounded by, you know, advertising and offers to buy stuff that are constantly trying to make us feel like we need something.
[26:37] And yet at the same time, our culture is constantly saying, you know, you must be independent, independent, independent. Don't ever sort of show your weakness or depend on others. It's all about you. You must be independent.
[26:48] So we all want what we want, but we don't want to expose ourselves to the vulnerability of dependence. And that can happen in so many ways in the kind of individualistic society that we live in.
[27:01] And I remember once coming across someone and I thought it was a really sad example. It was a wife who basically said that she didn't want her husband to think that she needed him.
[27:18] And so she was like, you know, he wants me to need him, but she just wanted to be absolutely independent. And it just seemed to me like such a kind of tragic distortion of what marriage was meant to be.
[27:33] Our culture is saying be demanding, but don't be dependent. But that's a recipe for misery. Because being demanding means that you'll never have enough because nothing satisfies.
[27:46] But refusing to be dependent will ultimately leave you isolated and lonely. And of course, the amazing thing about the Bible is that it's saying the exact opposite of what our culture is saying.
[27:59] The Bible is saying don't be demanding, but definitely be dependent. And this verse is reminding us of our needs. And it's also reminding us of the fact that we are dependent.
[28:14] And that dependence works in two ways. We are dependent on God and we're dependent on others. And the wider chapter that we read gives just such a brilliant expression of this.
[28:24] Because Paul speaks in verse 13 about how he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. He's totally dependent on Jesus. But yet at the same time, he has relied on the generosity of these Philippians.
[28:36] No other church has helped him, but they sent him a gift that has met his needs. And it's a great reminder that this is the way that God has made us.
[28:48] He's made us as his creation. That means that we need him. He is our creator. But he's also made us in such a way that we also need each other.
[29:00] And God forbid that we ever forget just how much we need him and just how much we need each other. The third question is, what is God promising?
[29:15] Well, the answer is quite simple, really. God is promising to provide. He's promising to provide every need of ours, all your need, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
[29:30] And again, there's more amazing words and truths here that we can dig into and think about. That word need, again, speaks of stuff that's lacking.
[29:41] And God is promising to provide what is lacking. And it's reminding us that sin has left us broken and lacking in so many ways. But God is going to make up for what is lacking in every department of our humanity.
[29:57] And that's the great promise of the gospel, a restoration of our whole humanity. Now, often that's a promise that God will keep in our day-to-day lives.
[30:08] So if you lack patience or strength or understanding or friendship or purpose or direction, God is going to supply all of these things. But ultimately, the making up of what is lacking is going to come in the future, when we will be with God in his new creation.
[30:27] And that's really what's emphasised by the two phrases at the end of the verse, in glory by Christ Jesus. In glory is telling us that the provision God makes for us is one that's made, in glory.
[30:43] Now, when we hear that word glory, we should be thinking of two things. You should be thinking of heaviness and brightness. Now, the reason you should be thinking of heaviness is because the word for glory in the Old Testament means heavy.
[30:56] And it's expressing the idea of weightiness. In other words, absolutely nothing superficial. So when God meets our needs, it is with heavyweight solidness.
[31:09] There's no cheap rubbish in God's kingdom. And the word for glory in the New Testament means brightness. It's the idea of radiance. In other words, God is not going to meet our needs with anything that's tainted or grubby or rotten.
[31:22] So often we meet our needs with stuff that turns rotten and that just creates more need. But God does not do that. God's provision is heavyweight, radiant, pure.
[31:34] In other words, he only gives you the very best. And that is because the provision he makes is by Christ or in Christ.
[31:44] It could also be translated. And that's reminding us that God's provision for our needs is made through our union with Christ. And really, that's the thing that lies at the very heart of Christianity.
[31:57] The fact that by faith, we are united to Jesus Christ. And that union we have with Jesus is incredible. It means that all the achievements and privileges of Jesus are ours too, if we trust in him.
[32:18] That means that his death is our death. His resurrection is our resurrection. The victory that he won over sin is our victory over sin. The fact that he rose to live forever means that we too now can look forward to eternal resurrection life.
[32:34] His security is our security. His preciousness is our preciousness. He is the son of God. And we are adopted as God's children too.
[32:45] And that is where our needs are really met. We are united to Jesus. So in every area that we lack, Jesus covers it.
[32:58] And that's a crucial thing to remember. Because, you know, so often, so, so often we can come to God thinking that we don't have enough. We're not good enough. We're lacking. We're mucking up.
[33:08] We're failing as Christians. And in all these areas where we feel we lack, Jesus covers it. And that's because we are united to him.
[33:19] Our true needs, our real needs, our eternal needs are completely and utterly provided for. Jesus can do it all.
[33:31] And that, of course, is brought out in the word supply. And that's a really interesting word because it basically means to fill up.
[33:41] And that's how God works in us through Jesus Christ. It's all to the level of being full up to the very brim.
[33:53] So if you think of, you know, you think of coming before God and you think, well, I lack righteousness. Jesus will fill you to the brim. You think, you know, I've lacked goodness.
[34:06] I've lacked holiness. I've lacked all these things that I'm supposed to have. But yet Jesus fills in all the gaps. And all of that will be consummated in the new creation.
[34:18] Because there, all our needs will be fully met to the very brim. So our need for friendship will be totally filled. We'll be reunited with people we love. And there'll be thousands and thousands more people to get to know.
[34:31] Our need for purpose will be totally filled. It's a new heavens and a new earth to explore, to enjoy, and to look after, and to experience. Our joy will be full.
[34:43] There will be nothing to spoil it. Our peace will be full. Nothing to take it away. Our energy will be full. Won't that be so good? No more tiredness in heaven. And it's all because of our union with Jesus.
[34:55] In him, our needs for eternity will be fully, fully met. That is God's promise. And that's why even though we lack things now, that lack is always, only ever, temporary.
[35:15] God is promising to meet all of your needs in and through his Son, Jesus Christ. Our last question is, what does God require of us?
[35:30] Well, there's a few things that we can say here, just very briefly. I'm just going to pick out a few key words. First key word is contentment. And Paul speaks about that in verses 10 to 13.
[35:43] And he thanks the Philippians for their care. But he says, in respect of what I've learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.
[35:55] And he's emphasizing the fact that, you know, our experience as Christians can sometimes be very positive. And sometimes we can be very comfortable. And at other times we might really be struggling and lacking.
[36:09] And the reality of God's promises should be just a pillar that gives us contentment in all of these things. Another key word is kindness.
[36:22] Paul speaks about the Philippians and the kindness that they've shown to him in providing for his needs. And I think it's reminding us that it's really important to remember that when you think of God's promise to provide, we can be two things.
[36:40] We can be the person to whom this promise is kept. So in terms of our needs, God provides for us. And in so many ways, it can be amazing how God just meets our needs, even when we don't expect it.
[36:55] So God keeps this promise to us. But at the same time, you can also be the person through whom this promise is kept.
[37:05] So you might be the person that God uses to keep this promise to someone else. And through an act of kindness or thoughtfulness this week, whether it's just phoning someone or texting somebody or giving somebody a wee hand with something or sharing a gift or a meal or whatever with somebody, by doing that, God is keeping his promise to provide through you.
[37:30] And that's an amazing thing to think that we could be a means through which God is keeping his promise. This should also prompt us to worship. Verse 18 kind of speaks in those terms, speaking of generosity and meeting the needs of others as a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.
[37:52] This is the kind of worship that pleases God, generosity, kindness and provision. We're also being reminded about patience. You'll notice that verse 19 says, God shall supply.
[38:03] That phrase shall supply is future tense. That, of course, means sometimes we might have to wait. We're also being reminded to trust God. Like in all God's promises, our response should be to listen and to trust him.
[38:17] And this should shape our perspective. It's all reminding us that we need to rethink what we really need and we need to rethink where we need to go for these needs.
[38:32] So we think about contentment, kindness, worship, patience, trust, perspective. But the last thing I want to just leave with you is the word default. Now that might sound a bit of a strange word to say, but let me explain what I mean.
[38:47] If you look at what Paul is saying, he's speaking about practical needs, day-to-day stuff, provision for one another, about how churches and congregations should steward what they have and share their resources with one another and help people who are in need and provide for one another.
[39:03] And you think about churches having enough money and you think of churches having enough resources and all of these things that they need in order to accomplish their work.
[39:15] And Paul's great default in all of that is that God will do it. After talking about what this church has done in terms of practical action, he says, my God will provide.
[39:33] In other words, his default is that God will meet our needs. And boy, that needs to be our default too. Because if we have needs, if we have plans, if we have things that we want to, if we have things that we hope to achieve, we need to make God the default that we always run to.
[39:52] And sometimes we can think about, you know, strategies and budgets and these things are good. But at the same time, sometimes we should just chuck all that out the window and think, if we have a need, let's go to our amazing God who has all the resources and all the strength and he knows all the details and he has promised to provide.
[40:12] So as you go into our new week, I want you to go into this week with this promise in your minds that God has promised to supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
[40:28] And I guess if anyone's listening who's not yet a Christian, I guess I want to just ask you, you know, where would you go to have your needs met? Where can you go to find something that doesn't just fade away after a wee while?
[40:48] Where will you go to find something that will actually meet your needs for life and for eternity? And that's the kind of questions that we should always be thinking about.
[41:01] Amen. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for your great promise to provide. We thank you that you are such a kind and gracious and generous God.
[41:13] And we pray that in every aspect of our lives, not just in church, but in every part of our lives, our homes, our works and everything that we do, we pray that we would always default to running to you to have our needs met.
[41:28] Please forgive us for all the times we fall into the temptation of thinking that if we have more stuff or more money or more this or more that, that we'll be happy. Help us to see that actually it is only in you and in everything that you've done for us through your Son, our Lord Jesus, that all our needs are met.
[41:50] Help us all to see and understand these things, we pray. And we pray that you would just watch over us all in the rest of the day and that your grace, mercy and peace would be with us all.
[42:03] Amen.