The Abundant Provision Of God
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Introduction
Introduction
I want to begin today with a question.
But before I do, I want to talk about our response.
When we are asked a question in church, there is a temptation.
The temptation is to give an immediate Sunday School answer.
The temptation is to say what you think I want to hear.
However, that’s not the point of asking this question.
When I ask it, I want us all to really think about it.
Let me ask the question, and then we will talk about the point.
Question:
Has God ever failed you?
Here is the point.
Sometimes we pray and it seems like God doesn’t answer.
Sometimes we plead with God for a particular outcome, and the opposite happens.
Sometimes we look at our lives and it seems like everything is going wrong, and everything is falling apart!
It is in those moments that our theological rubber meets the road of everyday life.
In those moments, what we believe to be true about God will be tested!
It is in those moments that pausing to reflect on the past is essential.
What we may perceive as a failure of God to answer our prayer is really an opportunity for faith!
Why do I say that?
Because Scripture is clear that God answers every prayer!
He just does it in His timing and according to His will.
The will of God may be to wait, the will of God may be a no.
He may also say yes.
No matter what answer we are given by God, what Scripture reveals about Him is still true.
God is good.
God is kind.
God is loving.
God is just.
God is faithful.
God is our father.
As our father, as the Good Shepherd, He will provide.
Look back up at verse 1 of Psalm 23.
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”
We will never be in want because He will always provide.
That is what we want to talk about this morning.
The abundant provision of God.
Principle:
God will always provide for His children.
Guidance:
Three realities to place our confidence in.
Outcome:
Faith in the provision of God gives freedom to live in the will of God.
Three realities to place our confidence in.
Reality #1…
1. The Source Of Blessing And Provision
1. The Source Of Blessing And Provision
“You anoint my head with oil.”
Who is the “You” David is talking about?
God.
All through this Psalm, David is exalting the activity of God on our behalf.
God is doing things for you and me!
He is the Shepherd. He brings us to green pastures and beside still waters.
He restores us, He leads us, He gives us safety in His presence!
Even in the presence of our enemies He provides our needs!
God is with us.
This is where we place our confidence!
The source of blessing and provision is God!
We place our confidence in Him!
So often we turn to the wrong place for the things we want and need.
We think they can be found within ourselves.
Help cannot be found in ourselves.
David knew that.
In fact, there are two places in the Psalms where David makes that clear. Psalm 60:11 and Psalm 108:12.
These verses are identical. Here’s what they say.
Psalm 60:11
11 Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless.
We can do nothing to help ourselves.
The source of blessing and provision is God.
James makes that clear.
James 1:17
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Every good gift. Every perfect gift.
These things come from God!
He is the source of blessing and provision.
That is why Jesus told us to seek first His kingdom.
Go with me to Matthew 6:31-34.
Matthew 6:31-34
God knows our need. He knows every single need and He has promised to provide!
When we seek God first, when we pursue things of eternal significance, God provides.
Now, we do need to understand that there is a balance.
This doesn’t mean that we don’t have to work or earn a living because God will provide.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 clears that up for us.
2 Thessalonians 3:10
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
That being said…
God is the one who sustains our breath.
God is the one who gives the strength and ability to work!
Even as we work and earn our living, that is still a form of God’s provision.
The reality that all blessing and provision come from God should cause us to seek Him all the more!
In our study of Corinthians we have been talking about running the race, living the Christian life.
We do that, as Hebrews 12:2 says, “looking unto Jesus.”
He is our focus because He is the source of provision and blessing.
We look to Him.
He is the one who is with us in the darkest valley.
He is the one who is with us in the presence of our enemies.
He is the one who supplies our every need.
Psalm 115:1 says this.
Psalm 115:1
1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth.
We give Him glory because He is faithful.
He blesses.
He provides.
In the hardest circumstances God is still with me.
I really want you to hear that this morning.
God is with you.
Whatever you are going through, God is there.
He will get you through anything you face.
We know that because He is a faithful God.
Sing with me
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
All we have needed, His hand has provided.
Great is His faithfulness.
God is always going to provide.
Because that is true there are three realities to place our confidence in.
Reality #1. We can be confident in the source of blessing and provision.
Reality #2…
2. The Power Of Spiritual Blessing
2. The Power Of Spiritual Blessing
“You anoint my head with oil.”
There is a lot of imagery in this phrase that we are going to try and unpack this morning.
The first thing I want to talk about is the practical reasons this was done.
The Bible background commentary says this.
Old Testament Psalms 1-41: Book One
Banqueters in the ancient world were often treated by a generous host to fine oils that would be used to anoint their foreheads. This provided not only a glistening sheen to their countenance but also would have added a fragrance to their persons and the room. For example, an Assyrian text from Esarhaddon’s reign describes how he “drenched the foreheads” of his guests at a royal banquet with “choicest oils.” Oil preserved the complexion in the hot Middle Eastern climate
This was done by a host to welcome someone.
The Bible lands are hot and dry.
It was customary to put some olive oil mixed with herbs or spices on someone’s forehead when they entered the home.
Jesus actually references this custom in Luke 7:46.
Luke 7:46
46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.
It was cooling, refreshing, and smelled good.
It also helped the complexion.
Warren Wiersbe makes and interesting point in his commentary when he notes that Shepherds would use oil to heal hurts, and keep flies and insects away.
Those are practical benefits.
What I want to say here is that We serve a practical God.
We have already talked about how He supplies our needs and provides for us.
He brings us healing, He guards, guides, and protects us.
But that’s not all.
If you were to read through the books of the Bible that deal with kings and priests, you would find anointing with oil mentioned well over 100 times.
I want to look at one particular instance in 1 Samuel 16:13.
1 Samuel 16:13
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
Here the anointing with oil is almost symbolically picturing the coming of the Holy Spirit.
It signifies being chosen and set apart by God for His use.
God has blessed us with the Holy Spirit.
Every single believer has been anointed by the Spirit.
We are called saints, set apart ones.
God has chosen you and me to be His.
However, He has not chosen us to be placid trophies on a shelf.
We have been chosen for use!
The Holy Spirit has already gifted us.
We have talents and abilities that God expects us to use for His service!
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 detail the job we have all been given.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
We are ambassadors.
We represent jesus.
Through us God is pleading for sinners to be reconciled to Him.
Not a sinner?
We all are.
We need to be reconciled to God.
There is only one method of accomplishing that.
Through His death on the Cross, Christ became sin for us.
When we place our faith in Him, His righteousness is given to us.
Once we have placed our faith in Jesus, we get the Holy Spirit.
A right relationship with God comes only through faith in Jesus Christ.
Trust Him.
The Spirit is refreshing
The Spirit is like a cool breeze on a hot day
The spirit is like a fragrant aroma
The Holy Spirit is a blessing from God!
Like the fragrant oil poured on the head of guest, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and changes us for the better!
He empowers us to live righteously.
It is only through Him that we are transformed.
The Holy Spirit is changing me.
That transformation is a process.
We must work at it and be patient in it.
Sing with me…
“Showers Of Blessing”
God is always going to provide.
Because that is true there are three realities to place our confidence in.
Reality #1. We can be confident in the source of blessing and provision.
Reality #2. We can be confident in the power of spiritual blessing.
Reality #3…
3. The Abundance Of God’s Provision
3. The Abundance Of God’s Provision
“My cup runs over.”
This image has more significance when we think of a hot desert climate.
We are in a dry and thirsty land and God comes to us with a cool cup of water.
God provides exactly what we need, when we need it.
Here’s the important thing we really need to remember.
God is the one who truly knows what we need and when we need it.
The picture here is not just one of provision. It is of abundant provision.
Runs over – רְוָיָה (rewā·yā(h)) saturation; superfluity. overflowing n. — the state of overflowing with a surplus of liquid. Noun, feminine, singular, absolute +- common.
Runs over – רְוָיָה (rewā·yā(h))
God does not just supply our need, He provides an abundance.
Ephesians 3:20-21 says this.
Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.
I can imagine quite a bit.
God can do more.
His power works in us. He supplies our every need.
He supplies abundantly.
Because of His abundant provision, we give Him glory!
All of this brings us to an important consideration.
We have touched on it and hinted at it, but I want to address it directly.
Who makes our cup overflow?
Let’s be reminded of what Philippians 4:19 teaches.
Philippians 4:19
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God is the one who supplies all our need!
Remember, the source of blessing and provision is Him!
It is not from inside of us!
God supplies all our need.
It is all Him!
Psalm 98:1 makes this so clear.
Psalm 98:1
1 Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
God doesn’t turn to us for His victory. He supplies our needs.
Again, this doesn’t mean we do nothing.
Proverbs 21:31 says
Proverbs 21:31
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the Lord.
We prepare, but we rest ultimately in Him.
His provision for us is abundant.
He provides more than we need, much more than we deserve.
We do not deserve the abundant provision of God.
That’s why it is called grace.
Mercy is not getting what we deserve.
Grace is getting what we do not deserve.
GRACE = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
G-od’s
R-iches
A-t
C-hrist’s
E-xpense
God’s abundant grace provides for us.
John puts it this way in his gospel.
John 1:16
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
Grace for grace is the idea of grace upon grace upon grace. It is an endless roll of grace.
It’s like standing at the ocean and having waves of grace roll into you.
God’s grace is never-ending!
Paul told Timothy that we should be content with food and clothing (1 Ti. 6:8).
We have so much more than that!
According to Ephesians 1:3 we have every blessing in Christ!
Ephesians 1:3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
This is the abundant provision of our God.
He has provided us with every blessing.
Our cup overflows!
As I trust Him, God provides.
Do we trust Him?
Are we stepping out in faith?
He will provide.
And for that provision, we give Him glory.
Sing with me
“To God Be The Glory”
Give Him the glory. Great things He has done.
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
This is a time for believers to remember the price that was paid. To be reminded of the penalty of sin. Taking part of communion does not save you. This is simply a way for us to be reminded of what Christ has done. If you know the Lord as savior this morning, please join us in bread and juice as we remember Jesus Christ. These are only symbols, they represent the body and blood of our Savior. Examination – verses 26-32
OBSERVANCE OF COMMUNION
OBSERVANCE OF COMMUNION
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
The Bread (His Body) vv. 23-24 “Only Trust Him” (chorus only)
Only trust Him only trust Him only trust Him now
He will save you He will save you
He will save you now
The Cup (His Blood) v. 25 “I Surrender All” (chorus only)
I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Savior
I surrender all
Conclusion
Conclusion
As we wrap this up I want to return to a thought from the introduction.
Faith in the provision of God gives freedom to live in the will of God.
We have learned this morning that God is the source of all blessing and provision.
We have learned that He gives us the Holy Spirit.
We have learned that God’s provision is abundant.
Now that we have learned these truths, we must put them into practice.
God provides. He provides abundantly.
He has given us every blessing in Christ! He has given us gifts, talents, and abilities.
What’s next?
Consider where God has placed you and what He has called you to do.
Sometimes God calls us to do things that are frightening.
He calls us to step out in faith.
When we trust His provision it gives us freedom to do what He has called us to do.
The logistics are His responsibility.
He will be faithful.
Personal:
This means we trust Him for our safety, security, and needs. We do what He has called us to do even when it is scary. Commit to following the will of God.
Relationships:
Relationships involve risk and vulnerability. Sometimes God calls us to do things that seem impossible. He calls us to share Christ with someone who is hostile. To love on people who are unlovely. Trust Him and follow His leading.
Parenting:
This is one of the most difficult areas. It is hard to trust God with our children. Do we trust Him when He calls them to dangerous places? Do we trust Him when they make poor choices? Even in those difficult times God can cause your cup to overflow! But we have to trust Him. Trust Him to provide for us and for our children.
Marriage:
Sometimes God calls us to take steps of faith, to be vulnerable. That can be hard. Especially when there has been tension and disagreement. Do we trust God’s plan for marriage even in the dark days? Will we walk by faith? Trust Him to provide. Walk in obedience.
COMMITMENT:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When in need come to the source of provision.
God will supply our need.
Find what you need in Him.
When strength fails the Holy Spirit supplies.
We must admit our weakness.
We must turn to Him for strength.
Expect God to provide abundantly.
He will do what He has promised.
We need only receive what He provides.
Walk in the will of God and trust Him to provide.