Paul declares in Philippians 4:19, And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

A diligent study of the Word of God reveals that abundance is God’s will for his covenant children. There is no lack in the kingdom of God. Poverty and lack entered the world on the heels of sin. Sin produces poverty and lack. God desires to meet every need of his children. Let's examine the truth of this Scripture in detail.

I. My God

God is the source of our provision. Believers fall short when they look to their jobs, or to the economy or to the stock market. God provides through all these avenues, but he is the source of all blessing

Proverbs 10:22: The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

Deuteronomy 8:18: But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

God knows no lack. The streets of his city are paved with gold. The heart of God is to share his wealth with his children. The apostle described God's willingness to share in Romans 8:32: He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things.

There is nothing that God cannot provide for his children. Dare to look to God to meet every need according to his glorious riches is Christ Jesus.

As a small child I attended a small Baptist church in Mobile. When the pastor received the tithes and offerings, he exhorted the people to give to God. As he said that, I wondered how the church leaders transported the money up to heaven.

Today many believers wonder how could God possibly transport the riches of his kingdom into their lives. But God is well able to deliver.

Remember that the earth overflows with the God's riches. Modern technology has increased the wealth of many people in many nations. But man has only scratched the surface of God's wisdom. If nations would only put God first, then God would reveal inventions that would prosper them greatly.

Also God can create out of nothing. God fed the children of Israel with manna from heaven for forty years. He brought meat to them when they demanded it. He fed Elijah. He provided money for Jesus and Peter to pay taxes.

God can easily manifest the provision from the spirit realm into the natural realm.

Every need and want God desires to meet. Abundant life is God's normal standard of living for His covenant people.

The story is often told of a man who saved up his money for a trip from Europe to the United States. He spent almost all he had to purchase the ticket. He brought some crackers to eat on the trip. He watched the other passengers eating the sumptuous meals. When the journey was almost complete, one of the crew asked him if he had a problem with the food onboard. The crewmember noticed his absence from the dining room. The man replied, "I only had enough for the ticket." He lacked knowledge. The meals were included in the price of the ticket.

At the cross Jesus purchased the ticket of redemption. We are redeemed from the power of sin and Satan. We are redeemed from poverty. We are redeemed from sickness and disease. He took the punishment for our peace. Jesus defeated the author of poverty and lack.

God wants his covenant children to enjoy the full benefits of the cross. To enjoy a benefit you must first know the benefit is available to you. Secondly, you must know how to access the benefit. A million dollars in a safety deposit box would not benefit you, if you don't have the key that enables you to access the box.

Let it be established that God wants to prosper you beyond your wildest dreams. Let it be established that His provision is abundant, that His provision is limitless. Let it be established that He has riches in glory in Christ Jesus and that He want to share them with you.

You now have knowledge of God's riches. Now let's examine the way to access his riches his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

First, obedience opens the door to God's riches. Isaiah 1:19-20: "If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Deuteronomy 28 is the classic teaching on the consequences of obedience and disobdience. The first fourteen verses of the chapter proclaim the blessing of God upon the obedient. The obedient will be the head and not the tail; they will be blessed coming in and going out. In these verses God pronounces blessing upon every possible aspect of the obedient's life. Victory is promised against enemies, while God is establishing the obedient as a holy people. The fruit of the womb is blessed.

In this agricultural society God promises to bless the barns, to bless the ground with rain, to bless the livestock and to bless the basket and the kneading trough.

The last fifty-four verses of chapter 28 describe the consequences of disobedience. This portion of the chapter reads like a horror movie. The description of the curse of disobedience is sobering. Disesase, famine, confusion, drought and slavery are just a portion of this curse.

Do you want to walk with access to the riches of his glory? Then commit to an obedient lifestyle. Obviously, a beliver should walk in obedience because of love and gratitude to God for the gift of his grace. But you may love Jesus and have symptoms of lack you don't understand. Examine your life and judge any area of disobedience. Your renewed obedience will give greater access to the riches of his glory.

Secondly, obedience to the specific laws of sowing and reaping open the doors to the riches of his glory. God's kingdom is established on the law of sowing and reaping. If you sow corn, you reap corn. If you sow tomatoes, you reap tomatoes. As that law works in the natural, so it also works in the spirit. Sow mercy and you will reap mercy. Sow hatred and you will reap hatred. James 2:13 contains one sobering truth: because judgment wthout mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.

The same law of sowing and reaping works in financial matters. II Corinthians 9:6 states, Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. You can access the riches of his glory more effectively, when you are consistenly sowing financial seed.

Tithing is the foundation of God's provision system. Malachi 3:10-12: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," say the Lord Almighty. Then all nations will call you blessed for yours will be a delightful land," says the Lord Almighty.

God requires a minimum of 10% of his covenant child's income. Some argue that tithe is under the law and that under the New Testament, we are no longer required to tithe. However, God established the tithe with Abraham and Melchizedek hundreds of years before the law. Today Jesus receives our tithe. During my seminary years Dr. Strange, an Old Testament professor, made a profound statement about the tithe. He said, "How could a New Testament believer, one who is a recipient of the grace of God through the blood of Jesus, consider giving less than what the Old Testament believer was required to give under the law." I agree.

When you look at the benefit of tithing, an unbiased person would conclude it is a great deal. The tithe is God's plan for financing the work of the kingdom, but the tithe is more for us, than it is for God. The tithe is God's plan for bursting into your finances with his great blessing. If you desire to access God's provision, start tithing today.

The tithe is the foundation of a Biblical giving program. Then as you add offerings such as sowing into gospel and giving to the poor, then you will tap more fully into his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Thirdly, walking in the wisdom of God gives the believer access to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the source of the wisdom. Colossians 2:3 speaks of Jesus saying, in whom are hidden are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I Corinthians 1:30 speaks of Jesus, who has become wisdom from God.

Wisdom is available to all. In the first chapter of James, the apostle exhorts the church to ask for wisdom. If in any situation you lack wisdom, simply ask God in faith. He will never chide you for asking for his wisdom in a situation.

The book of Proberbs is replete with the wisdom of God. Proverbs 4:7 says, Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding. God's wisdom will enable one to understand the laws of God and the laws of the earth. You will understand cause and effect. For example, Proberbs 15:1 states A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. By understanding this truth, you will know that if you speak harshly to someone, it will stir up anger. You will understand that you will sow what you reap. The wisdom of God will enable you to meet each situation in life with success.

Wisdom will enable you to tap into the riches of God. Not by seeking them, but by seeking wisdom. It is no conincidence that Solomon was the wisest king of ancient Israel, but he was also the richest king of ancient Israel. Riches accompany the wisdom of God. In Proverbs 8 wisdom is personified and says in verses 17-21: I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

Wisdom possesses riches. But if you seek just riches, you will not have the fruit of God in your life. If you seek wisdom, you can tap into his riches but also possess the peace and joy and presence of God.