Jesus reveals God as our Faithful Provider

INTRO

We’ve been in this series as a church called “Behold”.

The heart of this series has been to point to the ways in which Jesus reveals the heart of the Father through His miracles

SCRIPTURE

Open up to Matthew 14…

Background:

John the Baptist had just been beheaded

Jesus was mourning the loss of John as we would if we had just lost a loved one

Matthew 14:13–14 NIV

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Point 1: Compassion compelled Jesus to heal people

I don’t know about you but when I experience a tough loss “compassion” isn’t my default response

But Jesus was so connected with the Father that Heaven’s reality flowed through Him consistently

This leads us to a very important Kingdom principle…

#Compassion must be the heartbeat of our ministry to people

A couple things to make note of:

You’re all in ministry… (not just pastors…you too)

1 Peter 4:10 NIV

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

The longer you’re in ministry, the more calloused you can become to the needs of people

Often because we’ve been hurt, used, rejected

I want you to think about this…Was Jesus ever hurt by those He ministered to? (Oh yes)

Forgiveness is the key to longevity when it comes to compassionate ministry

Luke 23:34 NIV

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

To minister from a place of compassion you have to remember God’s radical compassion for you

Romans 5:8 NIV

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This verse always keeps my heart in check when I feel disrespected by someone

Matthew 14:15–17 NIV

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

Point 2: The disciples could only see what they lacked

Lack: to decrease, lessen; be devoid of; have too little; deprive; to be inadequate in amount or degree; to be without or lack; to decrease in amount, often to the point of becoming negligible; to keep someone from having, keeping, or obtaining something; to make something lower in status (Hebrew Lexicon)

Oh, how often all we see is our “lack”

Finances:

“I don’t have enough money”

“My life would be so much better if I had more disposable income to take vacations”

Relationships:

“If only I came from a family like they did”

“If only my husband wouldn’t leave his socks on the floor”

Careers:

“I don’t have the job I want…this just isn’t cutting it”

“I don’t get enough recognition here…”

Body Image:

“If only I looked like them”

“The way God made me isn’t good enough”

“I wish I was taller”

Church:

“If only we had a bigger parking lot where finding a spot was easier!”

“If only the church did everything my way”

#Our response to the Lord’s invitation to minister His Kingdom reveal our true belief about His provision

“I don’t have enough” (reveals that we are looking to ourselves as our true provider)

Are we called to work…yes. But our provision comes from partnering with God and trusting in Him not looking at ourselves as our ultimate provider.

“Okay Lord, I trust that you’ll provide because you lack NO-THING!”

reveals expectant faith as we trust him to provide

Psalm 23:1 NIV

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Matthew 14:18–21 NIV

“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Point 3: What we see as limitation Jesus sees as opportunity

When Jesus steps into any situation there’s a whole different reality at play…

What seemed impossible before now has zero impossibility in Christ

Illustration: When it comes to finances and we are in a tough spot I have often times found myself becoming a fearful beggar and seeking to control the situation. When I need to move into a faithful worshipper trusting that God is true to His Word.

You are a child of God - not a beggar or an orphan

#We serve a God of abundance!

There was more left over

Not just what they needed

Some of you need to begin to see God as a more than enough God because that is seeing Him rightly

“But, I’m just a realist.” If you’re a realist, then you need to understand that the reality of Heaven is a lot greater than your wildest imagination”

Philippians 4:19 NIV

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Big Idea: Jesus reveals to us that God is our faithful provider

God’s resources are endless.

There’s no situation you face that is too big for God.

If God has called you, He will provide for you…

APPLICATION

First things first.

Matthew 6:31–34 NIV

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

How many of you have ever worried about your clothes? What you are going to wear? The other day I was stretching my jeans after they got out of the dryer…and guess what happened they ripped…Ahh!!!

Seek first the Lord (worship) even when you feel like you don’t have enough and trust for His provision in your life.

One of the reasons that Katie and I give our tithe and offering first before any other bill is because we want to trust the God is our provider…even when…especially when…things are tight or downright impossible in the natural.

BREAKTHROUGH

If you need God’s provision in your life raise your hands so I can pray over you right now