Series: Plug In

 

Sermon Title: Plug in to His Provision

 

Recap what we have talked about in this series so far,

 

Plug into God’s Power – it is imperative that we have God’s power in our lives so that we can live a victoriouslife.   

 

            Plug into God’s Presence –  We “get to” it is a privilege

 

            Today we will be talking about plugging into God’s provision.

 

Let’s first establish that He is our provider.  He is Jehovah Jireh (the Lord will provide.) This is one of the manynames ascribed to God.  An essence of His nature is that He provides. Abraham first used the name Jireh when God provided a ram for him to sacrifice in place of his son Isaac.  We can find this story in Genesis 22.

 

What are we not saying when we say plug into His provision?

 

There is this teaching that has infiltrated the church and has been taught for some time now.  The basic idea is that, if you just have enough faith and/or send enough money to a certain “ministry” God will bless you with wealth, new cars, new houses, etc… 

 

Some preachers would even say that if you did not receive the anticipated blessing then it was because you did not have enough faith when you gave. Meanwhile their wallets thicken. 

 

We call it a “prosperity gospel,” in which you name it and claim it or blab it and grab it.  However, this teaching is no gospel at all.

 

This is the furthest thing that we see from the gospel.  Let’s consider the apostles who followed Jesus even to the point of being martyred.  Many were tortured, imprisoned, and even killed for following Christ. Where was their health, wealth, and prosperity?

 

The “prosperity gospel” undermines God’s command to believers to give.  In other words, we don’t give our money so that God will make us rich, we give our money out of obedience to His word.  We give because He said to give.  We give cheerfully and unto the Lord.

 

What are we saying when we say plug into His provision?

 

What does He provide? While the list can be exhaustive, we will limit it to just a few this morning. As we look at these, we will also look at the condition associated with each.

           

God Provides for Our Physical Needs God has been and will continue to be a faithful provider to the righteous. David declared:

 

Psalm 37:25

 

         ²⁵ I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
           or his children begging for bread.

 

         He fed the Israelites with manna. (Exodus 16)

He fed Elijah through the mouths of ravens and through a widow (1 Kings 17)

            He fed the multitudes: the four thousand & the five thousand (Matt. 14, Matt. 15)

            He fed His disciples breakfast after He had risen from the dead. (John 21)

            He provides for Paul’s need through the Philippians church (Philippians 4)

There is story after story in which God has proven to provide for the physical needs of His children. If He has done it for them, He will do it for you.

 

         2 Peter 1:3

 

         ³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness

 

God’s Provides on His terms. 

 

Meaning we cannot expect the blessings of God if we do not walk according to His ways.

 

One term would be the four letter word we call “Work.”

 

            Genesis 3:19

 

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

 

Proverbs 10:4-5

 

                  A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

 

Proverbs 13:4

 

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

 

Luke 10:4 & 7 (when Jesus sends out the seventy two)

 

 ⁴ Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 

⁷ And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

 

¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. ¹² Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

 

It should be clear to see that God’s provision is linked to our work.

 

If you are looking for excuses why you cannot obey this principle, I’m sure you can find one. 

You don’t have to work, but you can’t expect God’s provision either.  If any person has an excuse Nick certainly does.

 

Nick Vujicic – an Australian American who was born without any limbs.  Yet He is making an impact for the kingdom of God in such a great way. Nick has traveled to 78 countries, presenting on 3500 stages, to crowds as large as 800,000 people. 

 

Giving Would Be Another Term for God’s Provision

 

Proverbs 3:9-10

        

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

 

Honoring the Lord with your wealth and firstfruits comes before having barns filled with plenty.

 

Luke 6:38

 

³⁸ give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

 

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

 

⁶ The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 

 

            We can see that our motives play a big part in our giving.

The one who gives sparingly has more but chooses to be stingy in his/her giving.  It is a matter of the heart. 

                       

The one who gives bountifully also gives but from a good heart.  He receives bountifully

eulogia  - a (concrete) blessing, benefit. 

 

The blessing of reaping bountifully corresponds to the generosity of the heart. It’s a biblical principle, that if we give with a good heart that God will bless us.  I know several people who God has blessed because they give generously.

 

It does not mean that He will give you everything you want.  He will give you that which you need to accomplish every good work that He has called you to.  We see this as a reality in Paul’s life when he wrote to thank the church of Philippi.

 

Philippians 4:18-20

 

¹⁸ I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen

 

(Every good work, mothering children, providing for your family, call to ministry)

You are valuable as a child of God.  He will provide for you. If we are to abound in every good work and have sufficiency in all things then our responsibility is to work diligently unto the Lord and give generously to Him.  

 

God Provides Differently Than We Expect.   (storm & bowling alley)

 

(Exodus 16) The Israelites upon leaving Egypt and embarking in their journey through the wilderness had a real physical need.  They needed food.  So the Lord provided them bread from heaven aka “manna.” 

 

It was not quite what they were expecting, but it was food nonetheless.  It would sustain them in their journey.   However, It wasn’t long after this that we find them complaining about what God had provided.

 

Numbers 11

 

⁴ “Oh that we had meat to eat! ⁵ We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. ⁶ But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

 

Perhaps your life took a turn in a different direction than what you have expected.  Perhaps you’re working a job that you feel like is not your dream career.  But it is God’s provision, nonetheless.  If we are not careful, we can end up like the Israelites complaining about everything instead of being grateful for all things.

 

The key is to be grateful in all things, embrace where you are right now, in this moment in your life, and work as though unto the Lord and let Him take care of the rest.

 

God Provides Completely in Eternity.

 

It is very possible that we may not see the fulfillment of what we have prayed for in our lifetime.  Take Abrahamfor example.  God told Him that that his descendants would be as numerous as the sand on the seashore.

 

 

 

Hebrews 11:13

 

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar,

 

Moses for example. He had the privilege of leading God’s people through the wilderness and to the promise land, but he would never step foot in the promised land.

 

I personally have prayed for some people to be healed and God healed them.  I have prayed for others, and they have passed on.  It really is not up to me.

 

When our prayers are not answered in the way that we think they should be, just know that God is sovereign, He is in control.  If the person we prayed for was a believer but they were not healed on this earth we can rest assured that they are made perfectly new in the next life.

 

It does not mean that God no longer heals, but His plan was different than ours. All things will be made perfectin the life to come. Which brings us to us last point.

 

While we can go on and on about How He provides direction, grace, peace, rest, help, strength, healing, comfort, mental wellness etc… We want to point out one more thing that He provides and yes there is a stipulation.

 

God Provides Salvation (back to Abraham and the ram)

 

God provides wonderful things for His children including the gift of salvation. 

 

John 3:16

 

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

 

God sent His son into the world to save the world.  Save the world from what? From their sins and the punishment thereof. 

 

Romans 3:23

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

 

Romans 6:23

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

We are not simply talking about a physical death which we will all experience one day, but a spiritual deathwhich will entail being eternally separated from a Holy and righteous God and all that is good forever and ever.

 

The bible talks about hell as a place of eternal torment not of party and games.

 

 

Revelation 21:8

 

⁸ But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

 

            But just like all His other provisions, there is a stipulation.  You must believe and confess.

 

Romans 10:9-10

 

⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 

 

To be saved starts with believing.

 

            Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?

            Do you believe that He died on the cross and rose again?

            Do you believe that His work on the cross was a sufficient payment for your sins?

 

To be saved continues with confession.

 

                        Have you confessed your sins to Him?   

 

1 John 1:9

           

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Have you confessed Him as Lord of your life?

 

For Jesus to be Lord of your life means that He calls the shots not you.  He is in charge of your life, not you. 

                       

If so, then you can trust in the salvation that He has provided for you that you are saved.