
The Mystery of God’s Riches in Christ Jesus Revealed!
Scripture Reference Philippians 4 : 18-20
18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. 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.
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
When Paul wrote, 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” he did so from a prison cell. Now it is one thing for a modern television preacher to quote this verse with his two thousand dollar suit on, wearing his Rolex watch and living in a million dollar mansion, and yet quite another thing for the apostle to say it given his more modest context.
Why do I say this? I do so because it goes to credibility and integrity. “But surely the extremely wealthy preacher is far more credible than the lowly and imprisoned apostle!” Does not the one far better illustrate the meaning of this verse than the other? Yes! But not the one most people want to think of!
Whereas, the televangelist might have all the material trappings of God’s riches, the apostle truly illustrates the significance and trustworthiness of this biblical truth! In order for us to grasp the significance of what Paul is talking about here we must first reorient our perspective by looking at, who? We must look at the Lord Jesus Christ!
Phil. 2:6-11 spells out for us specifically just what the true riches of God’s glory looks like. It never looks like grasping for all I can get! Rather, the riches of God’s glory is revealed in God’s servant humbling himself/herself in obedience to God. Have you ever considered the possibility that God’s glory was most perfectly revealed through the cross, the death, the burial and the resurrection of Christ?! All of us like to skip ahead to the resurrection literally bypassing the immense significance that Christ was glorified through His work on the cross! Jesus said, John 12: 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me”. The riches of God’s glory is made perfect in God’s timing because those who humble themselves under God’s mighty Hand in due time God will lift up or exalt! Jesus was gloriously raised triumphant over death, hell and the grave! His victory is our victory! Because He lives I can face tomorrow! Through His sacrifice we are enriched!
Those who want to know the riches of God’s glory will experience it as they follow their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Humble yourself right now under God’s Almighty Hand and know, as certainly as Christ has been raised and exalted, that God will soon raise you up! “God will meet all of your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”!!!!!!