Sheryl Brady - Fighting Our Way Through Financial Fears

Today, I wanted to call this message «strategizing» instead of saying «fighting your way through financial fears.» I mean, that sounds better, doesn’t it? It sounds a little easier. Um, but the truth is, what I could feel was that there is a fight going on. For some people, it is a fight; you are fighting the good fight of faith, and having done all to stand, I encourage you to stand. We’re fighting our way through many fears. There are many fears that people are facing; there are fears regarding the fact that tomorrow there will be a transition of power. Some people are afraid of that.

There are different things happening in society; it’s like so many things are shifting and moving, and that’s all right when you know who the one is that’s doing the moving. It’s okay when you know that He has His eye on the sparrow, and if His eye is on the sparrow, then you know that He watches over you. If I conducted a survey today and asked you what your greatest fear is, many people would say that their greatest fear lies in finances.

It’s not just those who are in need of a job who would say that; it’s not just those who are maybe borrowing from Peter to pay Paul—you’ve heard that phrase. It’s not just that. In fact, sometimes, the more you have, the more fears you have because the more you have, the more you have to manage. For some people, they think, «Oh, if I just had more, I just want more; if I get more, I wouldn’t have to worry.» Sometimes, with more comes more responsibility, more commitment, and just a lot of issues that come up in our lives.

But today, I want to talk about one of the most amazing promises in scripture, which is Philippians 4:19: «But my God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.» The first part of this verse, if you just skim over it, you might miss it; there are a lot of promises packed into that verse. We’re going to unpack just a couple of them today.

The first one says, «But my God shall”—somebody shout that! That means He did not say, „My God may, ” or „My God could, ” or „My God might, ” but it says „My God shall.“ Tell somebody He shall! What He’s doing here is staking the character of God and the reputation of God; He’s putting it on the line. He’s saying, „Oh, it is going to happen!“ My God shall what? Supply all. Let me back up and say that the word „supply“ there means „liberally.“ So, my God shall liberally supply—not just enough to make it, not just enough to get by.

But I wish I had three or four who believe the word today. I’m going to hit you with the word today, and we’re going to stand on that word. He said, „My God shall supply all of your needs.“ He didn’t say He would supply some of them. Hello! He didn’t say He would supply a part of them. He did not say He would supply certain ones of them. No! What did He say? „I will supply all.“

Does that include your house payment? Does that include your car payment? Does that include your insurance? Does that include braces for your kids? Does that include school clothes, dress clothes, and all the things you have to have? Yes! Somebody holler, „Yes!“ It doesn’t say that He will supply all of your „wants“; it says He will meet all of your needs according to His riches. It is not based on my riches; it is not based on my resources.

Here’s what I want to say: If you find yourself with a need in your life, sometimes people find themselves in need, and they can’t see a way for it to happen. And because they can’t see a way, they don’t even bother to pray about it; they just worry about it. What God is saying to us is it doesn’t matter if you can see a way or if you cannot; you have to trust that God is a way-maker. What He said right here is that this isn’t even about what you have in your bank account. This is about my riches!

When you think about the riches of God, when you think about the resources of God, I might tap out, but God will continue on. He said this is about my resources; it’s based on me and what I have accomplished. So whenever you find yourself up against something, don’t allow fear, or don’t allow doubt—maybe that’s what I’m after—don’t allow doubt to cause you to forget that you do have a resource called prayer.

Come on! Y’all act like you’ve never had to pray. I said when you find yourself under pressure, make sure that you take a minute and call on God. Say, „God, I can’t see a way, but that doesn’t matter, because as long as I’ve got You, I know that there is a way where there seems to be no way.“