Trusting Jesus as Provider: Philippians 4:10
“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.” Philippians 4:10
With this verse, Paul begins to talk about the subject of financial support. He was a faith biased missionary, totally dependent on God to supply his needs as he and his team set about itinerant ministry in spreading the gospel.
Sometimes he worked with his own hands to raise money to support himself in ministry. (See Acts 18:1-3; 1 Corinthians 4:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10) He and his team did whatever was necessary to earn money to support their own way in ministry. In the Bible, hard work has dignity!
Other times Paul and his team were supported by gifts sent from churches they had planted or from fellow believers. Either way they saw God as the Provider. Sometimes God provided in the form of a job. Other times He provided through missionary gifts.
At the time of his writing this Epistle, Paul was in prison in Rome. Some of his expenses were provided by the state of Rome, but he had to raise the money for his rented quarters and food beyond a common prison cell. Again, God provided for the Apostle.
In this context, Paul is thanking the church in Philippi for stepping up and sending financial support. As this context unfolds, we gain huge insight on the calling every Christian has to be a giver.
My wife and I have been faith based missionaries for nearly 40 years. We have watched God supply our needs in miraculous ways. We raised a family of eight children and traveled the world in evangelistic work as faith based missionaries.
GoServ Global which I helped start back in 2010, is also a faith based ministry. We are totally donor supported.
Many volunteers work with us. They are the backbone of GoServ Global. My cofounder is self supported as a farmer. He gets no compensation from GoServ Global. I do not get a salary from GoServ Global either, but have to trust God for my own monthly support.
Dennis Anderson, who is our Domestic Disaster Relief Director often works long hours on the side to raise additional resources for himself and his ministry position. He is a faith hero as well.
The funds for every project we undertake are raised by faith. We are thankful for the many donors and churches God has raised up to stand with us in reaching the world with the good news of the gospel. This ministry would be impossible without them.
At this point, we do not take administrative overhead out of gifts given for orphan support, projects or national staff in other countries. We are dependent on undesignated gifts from faithful donors to help underwrite our staff and administrative expenses.
Why do I share this information? We know first hand what it is to live in Philippians 4:10-20. We are 100% dependent on God as Provider. We also have the joy of being givers from our own resources.
In order to do this, my wife and I sacrifice, live debt free, drive old vehicles, shop clearances, buy used items and often work with our own hands to make ends meet. We also have the joy of giving to help others.
God is so Good! He has taken care of us for over 50 years of ministry in miraculous ways. We can tell hundreds of stories of God’s amazing provisions reaching back to our early days of ministry and marriage. God is so Good!
Jesus cares for you as well. He wants you to know Him as Provider. Some He blesses greatly so they can give greatly. This also is a journey of faith.
Others learn faith through poverty. This also is a great journey of faith. He wants the body of Christ to be one and serve Him in love, faith, purity and unity.
No matter your situation in life, Jesus is calling you to get to know Him as Lord and Provider. This context in Philippians has amazing insights for every Christian. Stay tuned as we unpack biblical principles for trusting Jesus as Provider.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.” Philippians 4:10
With this verse, Paul begins to talk about the subject of financial support. He was a faith biased missionary, totally dependent on God to supply his needs as he and his team set about itinerant ministry in spreading the gospel.
Sometimes he worked with his own hands to raise money to support himself in ministry. (See Acts 18:1-3; 1 Corinthians 4:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10) He and his team did whatever was necessary to earn money to support their own way in ministry. In the Bible, hard work has dignity!
Other times Paul and his team were supported by gifts sent from churches they had planted or from fellow believers. Either way they saw God as the Provider. Sometimes God provided in the form of a job. Other times He provided through missionary gifts.
At the time of his writing this Epistle, Paul was in prison in Rome. Some of his expenses were provided by the state of Rome, but he had to raise the money for his rented quarters and food beyond a common prison cell. Again, God provided for the Apostle.
In this context, Paul is thanking the church in Philippi for stepping up and sending financial support. As this context unfolds, we gain huge insight on the calling every Christian has to be a giver.
My wife and I have been faith based missionaries for nearly 40 years. We have watched God supply our needs in miraculous ways. We raised a family of eight children and traveled the world in evangelistic work as faith based missionaries.
GoServ Global which I helped start back in 2010, is also a faith based ministry. We are totally donor supported.
Many volunteers work with us. They are the backbone of GoServ Global. My cofounder is self supported as a farmer. He gets no compensation from GoServ Global. I do not get a salary from GoServ Global either, but have to trust God for my own monthly support.
Dennis Anderson, who is our Domestic Disaster Relief Director often works long hours on the side to raise additional resources for himself and his ministry position. He is a faith hero as well.
The funds for every project we undertake are raised by faith. We are thankful for the many donors and churches God has raised up to stand with us in reaching the world with the good news of the gospel. This ministry would be impossible without them.
At this point, we do not take administrative overhead out of gifts given for orphan support, projects or national staff in other countries. We are dependent on undesignated gifts from faithful donors to help underwrite our staff and administrative expenses.
Why do I share this information? We know first hand what it is to live in Philippians 4:10-20. We are 100% dependent on God as Provider. We also have the joy of being givers from our own resources.
In order to do this, my wife and I sacrifice, live debt free, drive old vehicles, shop clearances, buy used items and often work with our own hands to make ends meet. We also have the joy of giving to help others.
God is so Good! He has taken care of us for over 50 years of ministry in miraculous ways. We can tell hundreds of stories of God’s amazing provisions reaching back to our early days of ministry and marriage. God is so Good!
Jesus cares for you as well. He wants you to know Him as Provider. Some He blesses greatly so they can give greatly. This also is a journey of faith.
Others learn faith through poverty. This also is a great journey of faith. He wants the body of Christ to be one and serve Him in love, faith, purity and unity.
No matter your situation in life, Jesus is calling you to get to know Him as Lord and Provider. This context in Philippians has amazing insights for every Christian. Stay tuned as we unpack biblical principles for trusting Jesus as Provider.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone