But my God shall supply all your need!

So here is a verse that was stuck in my mind, I had to look this up and share with you my findings.

Phl 4:19

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

How many sermons have we heard that equates "in glory" with heaven, in such a way that we think that this verse means that there is a heavenly ATM in heaven and Jesus is the attendant! I hate to burst your bubble, but that isn't what this means.

The word for glory here is doxa, and it is a noun, but it doesn't mean ATM in heaven. Here is what it means:

1) opinion, judgment, view

2) opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone

a) in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory

3) splendour, brightness

a) of the moon, sun, stars

b) magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace

c) majesty

1) a thing belonging to God

a) the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity

2) a thing belonging to Christ

a) the kingly majesty of the Messiah

b) the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ; the majesty

3) of the angels

a) as apparent in their exterior brightness

4) a most glorious condition, most exalted state

a) of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ was raised after he had achieved his work on earth

b) the glorious condition of blessedness into which is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Saviour's return from heaven

Ok, this could get lengthy, so I'll cut to the chase. Glory is a noun, but NOT a place! The part that mostly agrees with this verse is "the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity".

What does that mean, in relation to Jesus Christ? Simply, He is King, He is Owner, Source and Sustainer! You should know Him as Healer, Provider, Peace, Righteousness, and a large group of other wonderful things!

Whatever your need is, He is! Do you need healing? He is! Do you need provision? He is! Do you need peace? He is!

Jhn 15:7

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

So let us apply this verse to our language:

But my God will provide all of what you need because of who He is and all of what He has done through the finished work of His Son, Jesus Christ!

No, He is not an Automatic Teller Machine, but rather, He IS what you need!