Provision for the Called

Luke 9:10-17

🙌 No Turning Back – Week 2

Title: God's Provision in Obedience

Main Text: Luke 9:10–17 Supporting Scriptures: Hebrews 2:18, Luke 4:18–19

🙋‍♂️ INTRO

Let’s set the scene.

The disciples had just come back from their mission trip — seeing demons cast out, the sick healed, and the Gospel preached. And they’re fired up. They’re telling Jesus all about it.

And I believe Jesus just wanted to hear their stories… maybe sit down with them, eat some bread, laugh about what happened when Bartholomew tried to cast out a demon and got chased down a hill — I’m kidding. But seriously — I believe Jesus wanted to celebrate with them. Just like a dad gets excited when his kid comes home with a “look what I did” moment.

So He tries to pull them away to a quiet place.

But the crowd finds out. And now, instead of rest… it’s revival.

🔥 POINT 1: The Compassion of Jesus

Luke 9:10–11 ESV

On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.

Jesus welcomes them.

He starts teaching. He starts healing. He just keeps going.

And this wasn’t just a quick sermon. This went on for hours — like an old-school Pentecostal tent revival. 

No sound system. No air conditioning. No breaks. Just ministry.

Jesus was teaching, healing, listening. I mean listening… like “brain-dump” kind of listening.

You ever had a friend pour out all their problems in ten minutes, but somehow it feels like you’ve been there for hours?

And He’s not just God in that moment — He’s also fully human.

Exhaustion hits Him like it hits us. Hebrews 2:18 says He suffered when He was tempted —

— so we know He wasn’t running on auto-pilot.

He was pushing through because His Father had called Him to love, teach, and heal in that moment.

You think Jesus wasn’t tempted to stop?

He’s fully human!

He had to be hungry, tired,

maybe even a little “peopled-out.”

I’ve preached two services before and felt like I got hit by a bus. Pastor Chad once said: “Preaching a sermon takes the same energy as 8 hours of physical labor.” Imagine that — and Jesus is preaching for HOURS, healing for HOURS, loving people… for HOURS.

But here’s what you need to see:

Jesus didn’t stop because He wasn’t tired. He kept going because He was obedient.

And obedience activates provision.

That supernatural strength Jesus had to keep going?

That wasn’t from carbs and caffeine.

God Provides for the Call - not the comfort

🧠 POINT 2: The Disciples’ Perspective

Luke 9:12–13 ESV

Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.”

Now this is where it gets interesting.

The disciples come to Jesus — and this sounds less like a request and more like a boardroom decision:

“Send the crowd away to go into the villages and find lodging and food. We’re in a desolate place.”

You ever been part of a group that clearly had a “meeting before the meeting”? That’s what this feels like.

And I can imagine them trying to figure out who was gonna be the one to tell Jesus.

But here’s what they missed:

Jesus didn’t need their logistical suggestions. He wanted their faith.

So He hits them with:

“You give them something to eat.”

Come on — that’s savage. No Bojangles. No JFC. God’s chicken (Chick-fil-A) wasn’t even open because it was probably the Sabbath.

They say, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish.”

Excuse? Yes. But here’s what’s wild:

Jesus didn’t hear an excuse. He heard an opportunity.

💬 Real Talk

We do this all the time.

We tell God why we can’t… Why it’s too late… Why we’re not good enough… Why we’re too tired or under-resourced.

And God says,

“Cool story. You give them something to eat.”

Because listen — if He called you to it, He’ll provide for it.

God didn’t bring the disciples into that moment to show them what they couldn’t do. He brought them into that moment to show them what He could do through them.

🍞 POINT 3: God’s Provision Through Obedience

Luke 9:14–17 ESV

For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so, and had them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

And now — Jesus does what only He can do.

He takes what they have… Gives thanks… Breaks it… Hands it back to them…

… and says, “Go feed them.”

And they do. Everyone eats. Everyone is full. And somehow, there are 12 baskets of leftovers — one for each doubting disciple.

That’s not coincidence. That’s a lesson.

💬 Personal Story

I can’t count how many times I’ve pushed through a ministry moment while my body was screaming at me to stop — when I knew I needed food, rest, or just a break — but something deeper kept me going. Not adrenaline. Not pride. But this quiet strength I know wasn’t mine. It’s as if God whispered, “You’re doing what I called you to do — so I’ll give you what you need to do it.”

And that’s what I’ve learned again and again:

God doesn’t always hand out comfort.

He hands out grace for obedience.

He supplies strength for the assignment.

He gives provision for the purpose.

Sometimes we wait for God to make it easy.

But Jesus never said it would be easy.

He said follow Me — and when we do, we find out something powerful:

👉 God provides for the call — not the comfort.

🎯 CONCLUSION

Let’s land this.

Jesus was exhausted… but obedient.

The disciples were doubtful… but included.

The miracle didn’t happen when the food showed up — it happened when they gave what they had.

Here’s the truth:

God doesn’t hear your excuses. He hears opportunity.

God doesn’t need your perfection. He needs your obedience.

So this week — whatever you’re facing — In the city or the desert… In your comfort or your chaos… In your confidence or your anxiety…

Trust that if God called you to it — He’ll provide for it.

God provides for the call. And that’s why there’s No Turning Back.