Philippians 4:19 – “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  NASB

As we discussed in the previous devotionals, I would like to consider the word “shall” and “supply” and see what we can discover from it as we review the incredibleness of this Promise.

The word “shall” is too definitive to ever let us down.  It is concrete.  Remember, the apostle Paul knew what it was like to be completely spent and exhaustingly tired in Christian service.  He knew what it was like to have his godliness and sincerity repaid by anger and hate.  He knew what it was like when those who had formally been liberal givers stopped giving.  Some sought to suppress him, but he was not one penny poorer, but richer, because of this promise.  “My God shall supply all your need.”  He believed it and lived it and it was a source of inspiration in his life and ministry.

God’s supply is more sure than any human bank.  I remember a humorous story about a woman who found herself penniless and without food.  She prayed for God to supply a loaf of bread for her.  Some lads, who frequently mocked her, overheard her prayer and decided to tease her.  They bought a loaf of bread and threw it down her chimney. She rejoiced and praised God for the bread. The boys knocked on her door and laughed at her saying, “It was us, we sent the bread, not God.”  She said, “Boys, you just don’t understand.  Don’t think for a minute that God did not send it.  He let the devil bring it to me.”  My God Shall…

The word supply in this promise literally means to fulfill.  The more recent versions read: “My God shall fulfill every need of yours.”  Our need is like an empty vessel, and God’s supply is that which fills the vessel to the brim and runs it over.  Remember the account in 1 Kings 4 with the widow and her cruise of oil?  God’s supply is complete and only limited by our vessels.

There is incredible completeness in the Promise.  God fills “all our needs.”  Not some of them, but all of them.  That covers a vast amount of territory. What is left out of that promise?  Nothing!  All means All and covers All!  It does not matter if it is the needs of the physical body, the mind, the soul, the spirit, or our families.  It covers past, present, and future.  It meets the needs as parents, grandparents, siblings, husbands or wives.  It covers EVERYTHING!  “All Your Need!”

God Will Provide!  Do not try to determine how He will fulfill that promise and throw a monkey wrench in the mix.  Just let God be God and if He has to send ravens with food, He will.  In some way or other the Lord will provide:  It may not by my way but in His own way, He will provide!

Consider the Measure of the Promise.  “My God shall supply All your needs according to His Riches.”  Not your ability, but His.  We cannot conceive of the true vastness of God’s riches.  He owns it all and can call for it anytime He pleases.  The supply is not simply “out of” His riches but “according to” His riches. 

Let me illustrate this with this story.  There was a man who had a net worth of $10 million and saw a poor relative one day.  He asked the poor man, “How are you doing?”  The poor man said, “Not good, I’m destitute and don’t know where to turn.”  The rich man said, “That’s too bad, I want to help so here’s fifty-cents.”  Fifty-cents?  He could have given him thousands and not missed it, but he gave fifty-cents.  He gave “out of” not “according to” his riches.

In 1 Kings 10, we have the story of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.  In the thirteenth verse we read, “King Solomon gave unto the Queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave to her from his royal bounty.  I want you to see three things in this.  Solomon gave whatsoever she asked.  He gave, all her desire and that which He gave her was from his royal bounty.”

In Ephesians 3:20-21 we see the same three-fold measure.  All that we ask.  All that we think.  Exceeding abundantly above.  “My God shall supply all your needs, according to His riches…”  Not according to your ability but His ability.  The root of this and the anchor is that if we are “in Christ” we have His sure promises.  It is important and imperative that we Trust His Promise and Trust Him. He has promised to Forgive us all our sins, Love us unconditionally, Guide us fully, Protect us completely, and Provide for us without measure. 

God bless you as you move forward in your journey in Him!