other than our Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament (John 1 :3, Col. 1:16). The earth and everything good which fills up the earth is His (Psa. 50:10, Hag. 2:8). What a great God and Saviour we have! Eli jah partook of His fulness when “the ravens brought him bread 'and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook” (I Kings 17:6). David testified of His fulness (Psa. 37:25). The poor widow tasted of His ful ness when He filled her vessels full of oil (II Kings 4:1-7). And think of it! We who have trusted Him are made full in Him. Now the fact that we are complete in Christ does not mean that we get everything we want. It does mean, however, that we-are assured of hav ing every need met. And we might not need a new automobile when we want one, or new clothes when we want them, or a full stomach when we feel like eating (Phil. 4:11, 13). It was when Paul was chained in a prison cell that he said, “I have all, and abound: I am full . . (Phil. 4:18). Christ’s fulness was his ful ness, even under seemingly adverse circumstances, thus he was happy and contented. Regardless of what your financial status in life is at this time, do not fail to grasp the full meaning of the all assuring promise of Philippians 4:19. This great and familiar text, I dare suggest, has not worked for some of you. But do you know why? Let me offer two possible reasons. First, this promise is not given to the unsaved. It has no application whatever to the person who has not received the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit addressed this Epistle “to all the saints in Christ Jesus . . . ” (1:1). Second (and this might sur prise some of you), this promise does not apply to all the saints to whom the Epistle was written. Look closely at both the text and the context. No sound exposition of this passage will allow the disasso
ciating of verse 19 from verse 18. The two verses are in sep a rab ly linked together. Look at it for your self. The offerings from the Philip pian Christians, for the work of the Lord, were given at great sacrifice on their part. They were not wealthy Christians who, like those rich men in the temple of whom Christ spoke, gave “of their abundance,” that is, their surplus or overflow (Mark 12: 41 t 44) . Those saints in Philippi were like the poor widow in that same temple scene, who “cast in all that she had, even all her living.” And according to our Lord’s mathematics, “this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury” (Mark 12:43). Like the offering of that poor widow, the gifts of the Christians in Philippi were “an odour of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.” To all such who rely daily on the fulness of Christ, this never- failing promise covers. Are you in Christ? Have you been born again? Is the Lord Jesus Christ your God and Saviour? If you own Christ unashamedly, then be verita bly assured that in Him, who died on Calvary’s Cross, is all the fulness of God, and through your union with Him, that fulness is yours both through all of time and eternity.
Planning programs for the Arizona Bible Col lege from left to right are Mr. Al Sanders, Biola vice president of public relations, Mr. Merv Fishback, executive administrator of the Arizona Bible Colege, and Mr. Vernon Doerk- sen, director of public relationsfor ABC.
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