The very title gives rise to visions of some televangelist’s promises if we will but make a significant gift to his ministry God will provide us with luxury cars, fat bank accounts, and painless lives. Nothing could be further from God’s truth. God promised to provide our needs, not our wants and that provision would be according to the riches of Heaven, i.e., riches that earn eternal dividends. Paul would have found little in common with the diamond wielding, limousine driving, religious showboats of our day. But he was interested in helping God’s people become victorious, discover God’s perfect peace and power, and abound in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Chapter four contains Paul’s summary thoughts to his beloved Philippians. Our text, verse 19, contains assuring words of promise. True exegesis reminds us that any text is best understood in its context. For that reason, it is important to study carefully Paul’s closing words in this chapter. In them we will find how to discover God’s best...ten principles of prosperity. If we are to avoid the disaster of the Beverly Hillbillies, who never knew how rich they really were, we must employ these principles in our lives. If we are to discover God’s best we must…

1. Live Consistently, vs. 1, "stand fast in the Lord."

Inconsistency is a mark of immaturity and a thief of spiritual prosperity. In I Corinthians 15:58 Paul admonishes us, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (emphasis mine)…" We must be consistent in our walk, our worship, our witness, and in our warfare. This is "in season living and out of season living," when it is easy and when it is not; when it is popular and when it is not; when it is profitable and when it is not. The devil will bring into your path hurt feelings, disappointment, discouragement,...anything to deter you in your service to Christ. Many believers are bankrupt spiritually because of inconsistency. If we are to discover God’s best we must…

2. Live Harmoniously, vs. 2, "I beseech Euodious and Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord."

It appears that two ladies in the WMU were having a dispute over something. It really did not matter what it was. Paul’s concern was for harmony in the church and their own spiritual prosperity. The "one accord" in Acts had become "discord" in Philippi, at least in two lives. God places a high premium on unity and harmony in the fellowship of faith. Are you missing God’s best because of broken fellowship with a brother or sister in Christ? To discover God’s best we must learn to…

3. Live Lives of Service, vs. 3, "And I entreat thee, true yokefellow, help those women which labor with me in the gospel…"

Paul uses three significant terms when describing these lives of service. One, "true yokefellow ," is a picture of a "coming alongside laborer" carrying an equal share of the load. Two, the term "help," which is "sullambanou," (middle voice) means "rendering help in what others are doing." Three, "labored," (sunathlesan) meaning "to contend along with a person." The clear picture is that of devoted service. You should be honored when asked to serve. You should volunteer for a place of service. It is in the arena of service, not simply observing, where we discover God’s best. There is a place of service for everyone in the Body of Christ. If we are to discover God’s best we must learn to…

4. Live Joyfully, vs. 4, "Rejoice…"

Our countenance and our attitude communicate volumes to the lost world about our faith. No one in all the world has more reason for rejoicing than a Christian. This is not denial of difficulties or heartache. It is an expression of victory in the valleys of difficulty. Rejoice because of who you are, whose you are, why you are, and where you are going! If you are having trouble rejoicing, "count your many blessings...name them one by one…" Live joyfully. We are to…

5. Live Christlike Lives, vs. 5, "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand."

The word "moderation" is "epieikes," an adjective used as a noun with the article and is also translated "gentleness" or "sweet reasonableness." How kind are we? How gentle are we? When we talk with our spouse or address our children...how Christlike are we? This "sweet reasonableness" is important because wherever we go our witness goes with us, i.e., "the Lord is at hand." Be sure He is returning, but the context suggests that right now Jesus lives among men in and through the lives of His believers in whom He dwells in the person of the Holy Spirit. Christlikeness is the natural overflow of the Christ controlled life. If we are do discover God’s best we must…

6. Live Confidently, vs. 6, "Be careful for nothing…"

The opposite of confident living is continual worry. Fretting reflects on a feeble faith. I discover God’s best in my life when I learn to walk with confidence in His presence, His power, His purpose, and His provision for me. He controls what I can’t. He can fix what I can’t. He already knows what I do not know, and He is working all things together for my good and His glory. Confident living is made possible as we learn to…

7. Live Prayerfully, vs. 6b, "...but in everything by prayer and supplication…"

Discovering God’s best is always a result of intimate fellowship with Him through prayer. A thankful prayer ("with thanksgiving") praises God for His blessings and our supplications are the pouring out of our needs before Him. Through prayer our hearts are cleansed, our thoughts are focused, our lives are prioritized, our fears are dispelled , and our peace is secured (verse 7). Discovering God’s best requires that we…

8. Cultivate Holy Lives, vs. 8, "...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things."

The late Ron Dunn (Ron went home to be with the Lord this past June), one of our generation’s greatest preachers, called this verse, "God’s Ponder List." We are to fix our gaze on those things that promote, encourage, and enable holiness. Simple resolve is not enough. We must fortify the heart and mind as well as the body against Satan’s onslaughts. The battle for holiness requires a good defense ("flee the very appearance of evil") and a good offence ("...think on these things"). Discovering God’s best requires that we…

9. Live Obediently, vs.9, "Those things, which you have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

There is no bountiful living without obedient living. Obedience is non-negotiable in the Christian life. Where there is no obedience there is no joy, no peace, no power, and no supernatural provision. Disobedience shuts the windows of Heaven. We cannot select which of God’s commands we will obey. Partial obedience is disobedience. Obedient living is a key to God’s peace and wondrous provisions. Finally, Paul reminds the Philippians, and us, that to discover God’s best we must…

10. Give Generously, vss. 10-19

God was committed to supplying all their needs because they were committed to generously giving to Kingdom causes. Specifically, Paul thanked the Philippians for their generosity to him. They had given him a worthy offering which he described as " an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God," vs. 18. Our faithful giving to the Lord opens the windows of Heaven as described in Malachi 3:10. It is not insignificant that Paul concludes these principles which enable God to "supply all our need according to His riches in Glory," with our need to give and give generously. Generous giving cultivates faith; it slays covetousness; it gives peace; it glorifies God; and it enables God to meet our needs perfectly (Matt. 6:38).

These ten (10) principles for discovering God’s best flowed from the heart and pen of the Apostle Paul to his beloved Philippians because he "desired fruit that might abound to their account," vs. 17. He wanted for them what God still wants for you and me, that we will discover God’s best for our lives.

Note to pastors: If you find a good way to alliterate these points please let me know.