More Than Enough

Opening Scripture:

Mark 6:32–44 NLT

So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. Late in the afternoon his 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 nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.” But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!” “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.” Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.

Even when Jesus and the disciples were headed to a place to be alone there was still an opportunity to Serve

Jesus had compassion on those who followed him to where He was going because they were without spiritual care and guidance.

The disciples were trying to find an excuse to send the people away sooner then Jesus anticipated because so they saw the fact of it getting late and the people needing food as a means to get Jesus to send the people away.

Jesus provides a bold command “You FEED them”.

In response to Jesus instructions they responded based upon what they did not have instead of trusting Jesus to make provision.

Jesus then instructs them to go take inventory of the food they do have

After taking inventory they responded with we only have 5 loaves and 2 fish….

They brought it to Jesus and He made provision

Everyone was fed and they still had plenty left over.

Often times we are so focused on the little that we have to the point we fail to remember that Jesus is our provider

What is the little that you need multiplied in your life??

Take Only What You Need!!

Exodus 16:16–18 NLT

These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.” So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.

God knows our needs before we even come to Him in prayer.

God constantly proves to us that when we have Him we have all that we need and plus some.

God gives us an instruction to only take what we need…. This requires Faith!!

We MUST have faith that even with the little that we have God will always make provision for us daily.

When we take more then what we need not only do we show God that we don;t trust Him we end up killing the blessing that God is trying to provide us with.

The blessing is not in the materialistic things its in our ability to trust in Him and display His hand at work in our lives!

Be Wise With What You Have

Matthew 25:14–30 NLT

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

What we perceive to be little God sees as enough…

God will test us with what we are capable of and provides us with the opportunity to grow and maturity to receive more.

God is not going to give us more then we can handle…

With more responsibility comes maturity

With more blessing comes more testing

We MUST be wise with what already have….

How are you utilizing what God has already provided you with?

Are you hiding the seed that God has entrusted you with or are you investing it?

We MUST always remember that a seed takes a season to grow

Stay Rooted

When we obsess with getting more we take our focus off of God.

When we choose to stay focused on the portion that God has provided and acknowledge that it His provision we will continue to grow in spiritual maturity

We MUST Stay rooted in the presence of God… Humble beginnings will teach us this

It is in the “little” season that we learn we can’t do anything without God, without Jesus… we have a constant need for them daily!

By staying rooted in the presence of God i give myself the opportunity to learn and grow

By staying rooted in the presence of God i am protecting the investment that God has allotted to me

By staying rooted in His presence I am reminded that I have all that I need for He alone is my provider!!

Be still and know that you have ALL THAT YOU NEED!!!