MORE THAN ABUNDANT
“And the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.” I Timothy 1:14. (NASB).
Every child of God can testify that God more than abundantly supplies the needs of His children. Often His provision is on a “day to day” basis, much like what our Lord taught us in “the model prayer”. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11 (NASB).
Blessed, indeed, is the child of God who, in unrelenting faith, receives with thanksgiving the necessities of life “one day at a time”.
The Bible is replete with one instance after another of the manifestation of God’s abounding blessings upon His children. Let us look at several such instances.
MANIFESTED IN ISRAEL’S WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS
“He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and He made the waters stand up like a heap. Then He led them with the cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire. He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths. He brought forth streams also from the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.” Psalms 78:13-16 (NASB).
“Yet He commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven; He rained down manna upon them to eat, and gave food from heaven. Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance.” Psalm 78:23-25. (NASB).
"He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens; and by His power He directed the south wind. When He rained meat upon them like the dust, even winged fowl like the sand of the seas, then He let them fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled; and their desire He gave to them.” Psalms 78:26-29 (NASB).
MANIFESTED IN THE CASE OF THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH
"Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, "Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink."
“ And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand." But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die."
“Then Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. "For thus says the LORD God of Israel, ’The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.’"
“So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.” 1 Kings 17:9-16 (NASB).
MANIFESTED IN THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND
“Jesus therefore lifting up His eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?" And this He was saying to test him; for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.
“Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little."
“One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?"
“Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
“Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. And when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments that nothing may be lost."
“And so they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten.” John 6:5-13 (NASB).
MANIFESTED IN THE LIVES OF HIS CHILDREN
Love and Saving Grace:
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Ephesians 2:4-9 (NASB).
Forgiveness:
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. Ephesians 1:7-8a.
Provision for All Our Physical and Spiritual Needs:
“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
Strength for Our Labors:
“So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience…” Colossians 1:10-11. (NASB).
