“The Provision Factor”
(The Fatherhood of God Pt 7)
God made this promise…
I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me." 2 Corinthians 6:16-18
The Bible focuses on a number of factors related to God’s role as Father.
I. The Likeness Factor – Dad’s perfect genes
II. Unconditional love and acceptance factor – Dad’s unconditional love
III. Protection and security Factor – Dad’s perpetual protection
IV. The Presence Factor – Dad’s strategic presence
V. The Wisdom Factor – Dad’s infallible counsel
VI. The Provision Factor – Dad’s inexhaustible provision
Children completely depend on their parents for the provision of their daily needs. I can remember thinking after each baby how utterly helpless they were and absolutely dependent on us to care for them. Children learn dependence early as the healthy foundation for a life of interdependence later. Our Heavenly father is the original provider. He is the only self-existent being in the universe. He alone is dependent on no one or no thing. He is the only uncaused and un-needy being ever. He alone has no need to be sustained and He alone is the sustainer of all.
Who does God sustain and what does the Great provider provide? This subject is known as the providence of God or the providential care of God. The word itself means “to see”. God sees the need and what is needed and does something about it. He fully understands the helplessness of His creation and their absolute dependence on His care.
The whole Bible flows with examples of God’s providential care over all His creation. He didn’t speak it into being and then stand back and let it go. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus continually sustains or upholds the world by the word of his power. Without God’s intentional and continual sustaining energy, our environment would most certainly deteriorate in spite of our noblest efforts.
A. God continually sustains a viable environment.
Psalms 147:7-9 Job 12:7-10 Nehemiah 9:5-6 Psalms 104:1-35
The precision and intricacy of the earth is undeniable. The networking of all of the elements to sustain life is mind-boggling.
The distance from the sun - the tilt of the earth - the water cycle - the atmosphere
Everything intricately works together to provide the environment to continually sustain life.
It is the provision of a loving heavenly father. Even though the environment suffers greatly from misuse and deterioration ever since the fall, God has made provision in the future for its complete restoration. Paul told the Romans that the creation, which had been subjected to futility, groans awaiting the revelation of the sons of God. Revelation describes God’s restorative process resulting in a new heavens and a new awareness in which righteousness dwells and peace reigns. Revelation 22:1-7
B. God provides for mankind in general
You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:43-45
Paul referred to God’s universal provision when he witness to the Gentiles.
Acts 14:15-17 Acts 17:22-31
C. God provides for nations who trust him
God promised to bless all nations through Abraham. The Psalms declare, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” God prospers those who trust him. Our founding fathers understood the providence of God. They understood that whatever blessing would come would come because of the kindness of Almighty God. Even wicked nations were spared and blessed when they repented and turned to God. Listen to Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian ruler who finally recognized the one true God. (Daniel 4:34-37 )
D. God provides for Israel
Examples of God’s provision for Israel appear in nearly every chapter of the Old Testament.
The liberation from Egypt and the migration to the Promised Land stands as a most graphic illustration of God’s supernatural provision for his special people. Bitter water turned sweet, water from rocks, nourishment from heaven, indestructible shoes, unimaginable health, decisive military victories against impossible odds and day and night supernatural guidance from a cloud and a pillar of fire. Along with physical protection God provided for them a spiritual healing and privilege to be considered children of God. Psalmist urged the people to bless God for the abundant blessings from his hand. Psalms 103:1-14
And God is not finished with Israel. In the midst of discipline throughout their history for their disobedience and rebellion, God continually promised restoration not only for the people but for their land as well. Our heavenly father is a loving provider.
E. God provides for His special children
Even though he provides for mankind in general, the animals and the environment, God has special provision for his chosen children. The New Testament bubbles over with promises concerning God’s provision for every aspect of our life. God promises to provide physically, materially, emotionally and spiritually.
1. God’s physical provision
a) Physical protection
b) Physical healing
God provides for physical healing through the prayers of the saints and the sacrifice of Christ for us. By his wounds we are healed. Whether or not we experience physical healing here, God promises absolute healing in the hereafter. Philippians 3:20-21
2. God’s material provision
Jesus referred to God’s loving care over plants and animals to motivate His children to trust in Him for their needs. Matthew 6:25-34
Notice that Jesus referred only to life’s essentials. In fact, Jesus instructs us to be content with just the essentials.
Godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8
Even the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray encourages us to focus on just our daily provision. The Scriptures encourage us to look to our heavenly Father to provide our needs.
James 1:16-18 Matthew 7:7-11 Psalms 84:11; 34:8-10; 123:1-2 Romans 8:32 1 Timothy 6:17
How does God provide? Sometimes He provides supernaturally as in the manna from heaven.
Other times, He may use a combination of natural and supernatural means to supply. It seems however that one of his favorite ways to provide is the material sharing between His children.
God blesses some abundantly so they may bless others. The early church had no needs because they sacrificially shared EVERTHING. 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Philippians 4:19 is probably one of the most quoted verses and all the New Testament.
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
What a glorious promise! Notice it doesn’t say out of his riches in glory. God supplies our needs according to his riches in glory. God has a huge storehouse. Everything in the world belongs to God. If Bill Gates gave you a $10 bill it could be said that he gave to you out of his riches. But if Bill Gates were going to give you according to his riches, it would be a far different picture. With many of the promises of Scripture is there are conditions. Many people ignore the context in which this wonderful promise is found. Let’s look at the verses that come before it. Philippians 4:15-19
It was because of the generosity of the Philippians that Paul promises God’s abundant supply.
Just as God had amply supplied his need, he was confident that God would supply the needs of the Philippians because of the generous gift they’ve given to him. Prospect of this principle played out costs Paul t to launch into praise.
Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:20
This is a specific application of the sowing principle we just read. Again, this is a whole subject or series of messages in itself. God delights to meet our need. The only place I know of in the Bible where we are asked to test God is regarding the matter of giving sacrificially teach him and waiting on him to supply our needs. Church history abounds with those who have completely trusted in their heavenly father and found Him to be faithful to the penny to the minute in meeting their needs.
3. God’s provision for the soul
My soul, I refer to mind, will and emotional healing. Jesus said my peace I give unto you.
Jesus promised us his joy. Paul says we have the mind of Christ and the prospect of a renewed mind which brings about transformation of the soul. Paul says we have not been given a spirit of timidity of love and discipline in of a sound mind. Jesus heals a broken heart. Jesus binds up the wounded soul. We have the promise of the eternal destiny without all the garbage and soul damage we struggled through on this earth. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. There will be no more sorrow or pain only pleasures from his right hand evermore.
4. God’s spiritual provision
This is probably the basis for all other provisions of God for it is the sacrifice of Christ that enables God to pour out all the other blessing. Without God’s spiritual provision everything else is meaningless. Abraham understood God’s spiritual provision. When Isaac questioned the absence of a sacrificial animal Abraham by faith assured him that God would provide. After God stopped his hand from sacrificing Isaac, Abraham saw a ram caught in the brush.
God named that place God provides. This was picture of the ultimate provisions of His Son as the once for all sacrifice for us. Paul began his letter to the Ephesians outlining any number of spiritual blessings.
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. Ephesians 1:3
? Bless the Lord will my soul and forget none of his benefits.
? God chose us before the foundation of the world.
? God has sovereignly determined that we will be like His son; holy and blameless.
? Because of Christ God floods our life with grace.
? Because of Christ we have redemption eternal forgiveness of our sins.
? Through Christ many of the mysteries of the universe had been revealed to us.
? As his children we have a promised eternal inheritance reserved in heaven.
? We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit till the day of complete redemption.
? Is calling brings us hope.
? He considers us a glorious inheritance.
? He makes available a spiritual power far greater than our wildest imagination; the very power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
? We who were dead in sin have been made a life in Christ.
? We who are far off from God have been brought here by the blood of Christ.
? We who were worthless have become his workmanship created in Christ Jesus.
? We who were alien and homeless have been brought into the household of God.
? We who were unclean are growing into a holy temple a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
? We are strengthened with power in the inner person.
? Christ dwells in our hearts.
? We are rooted and grounded in love.
? We can experience the unimaginable love of Christ poured out in our hearts.
? We can be filled up to all the fullness of God.
? He promises to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the power the works in us.
? All these blessings and we have only highlighted three chapters of Ephesians.
All of these are the result of God giving his only son. These blessings only introduce the blessings that Paul had in mind when he said…
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Romans 8:32
He provides a way of escape from temptation.
He provides gifts and supernatural power for Ministry.
He provides power over the enemy.
He provides encouragement.
He provided his presence.
Heaven's Grocery Store -- Unknown Author
As I was walking down life's highway a long time ago,
One day I saw a sign that read "Heaven's Grocery Store."
As I got a little closer, the door came open wide
And when I later found myself, I was standing there inside.
I saw a host of angels that were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said, "My child, now shop with care."
Everything a Christian needed was in that grocery store;
And all you couldn't carry, you could come back next day for more.
First I got some PATIENCE, and LOVE was in the same row.
Further down was UNDERSTANDING, which you need wherever you go.
I got a box or two of WISDOM, and a bag or two of FAITH.
I just could not miss the HOLY GHOST 'cause it was all over the place.
I stopped to get some STRENGTH and COURAGE to help me run this race.
By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed GRACE.
I did not forget SALVATION, for salvation there was free,
So I tried to get enough of that to save both you and me.
Then I started up to the counter, to pay my grocery bill.
For now I thought I had everything to do my Master's will.
At the end of the aisle I saw PRAYER and I just had to put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside, I would run right into sin.
PEACE and JOY were plentiful. They were on the very last shelf.
SONGS and PRAISES were stacked nearby, so I just helped myself.
Then I said to the angel, "Now, how much do I owe?"
He just smiled and said to me, "Just take them wherever you go."
Again, I smiled at him and said, "How much do I really owe?"
He smiled again and said,
"My child, Jesus paid your bill a long time ago."
A "Rich" Man Owing No Tax -- Unknown Author
A tax auditor came many years ago to a poor servant of the Lord to determine the amount of taxes he would have to pay. "What property do you possess?" asked the auditor. "I am very wealthy," replied the Christian. "List your possessions, please," the auditor instructed.
"First, I have everlasting life (John 3:16).
"Second, I have a mansion in heaven (John 14:2).
"Third, I have peace that passes understanding (Phil. 4:7).
"Fourth, I have joy unspeakable (1 Peter 1:18).
"Fifth, I have divine love that never fails (1 Cor. 13:8).
"Sixth, I have a faithful wife (Proverbs 31:10).
"Seventh, I have healthy, happy, obedient children (Exodus 20:12).
"Eight, I have true, loyal friends (Proverbs 18:24).
"Ninth, I have songs in the night (Psalm 42:8).
"Tenth, I have a crown of life (James 1:12).
"Eleventh, I have a Savior, Jesus Christ, who supplies all my needs" (Phil. 4:19).
The tax auditor closed his book and said, "Truly you are a very rich man, but your wealth is not subject to taxation!"
Our heavenly father delights in providing for His children. How do we deal with the times where there does not seem to be provision? Does God never withhold his provision?
We will touch on that issue next time.
Response Today
? Trust Him to provide for your needs.
? Be grateful for His provision.
We would have nothing, absolutely nothing apart from God’s provision. Moses warned the Israelites that when they had become entrenched in the land and self-sufficient they would forget where it all came from. They would forget that even the ability to make wealth comes from God. Ingratitude is the first step a long journey away from God.
Our heavenly father is not like our earthly father.
? Our heavenly father passed on perfect genes
? Our heavenly father loves us unconditionally
? Our heavenly father protects us faithfully
? Our heavenly father never leaves us or forsakes us or abandons us.
? Our heavenly father offers infallible counsel and direction for life.
? Our heavenly father provides for our every need both now and forever, AMEN.
“He Giveth More Grace” words by Annie J Flint
Verse 1
He giveth more grace When the burden grows greater
He sendeth more strength When the labors increase
To added affliction He addeth His mercy
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace
Chorus 1
His love has no limit His grace has no measure
His pow'r has no boundary Known to men
For out of His infinite Riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth And giveth again
Verse 2
When we have exhausted Our store of endurance
When our strength has failed Ere the day is half done
When we reach the end Of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving Is only begun
Verse 3 (Pastor David)
Our father enjoys giving gifts to His chosen
His blessings all flow from His storehouse above
He heals us, redeems us and saves us from ruin
His blessings all come from His great heart of love
Verse 4 (Pastor David)
Our father supplies every need we encounter
With blessings far greater than we can perceive
When we reach the end of this earth’s final chapter
Our Father’s inheritance we will receive.
