Tag: Supply

One Source

Genesis 41:53-57

Trying to prosper in this life while navigating on your own judgment and intellect, will always lead you to an unfruitful end. There’s nothing inherently good in the earth (especially these days) except for those things we have need of to remain alive. Food, clothing, shelter, and good health are most important among all things we can accumulate, and without them, living could easily become a hard thing to do.

God gives those who trust in Him, wisdom required to navigate in the earth. The Lord knows all, and sees the end from the beginning. God knows when seasons will change, whether in nature, or in our own lives. He keeps His children clothed, fed, and protected, during all seasons, and desires that they always be prepared to extend provisions to others as well. It’s hard to convince someone, the God we serve is full of grace, and can supply all our needs, when we’re broke and struggling, but God can and will provide for those who diligently seek Him, and desire to do only what’s pleasing in His sight.

As we continue delving into the story of Joseph, we find where the seven years of plenty had come to an end, and famine took precedence in all civilized lands that surrounded Egypt. Because of Joseph’s interpretation of Pharoah’s dream, God allowed Egypt the opportunity to prepare well, before the time of dearth invaded the lands. It’s uncertain whether or not the other lands got wind of the prophetic words of Joseph, but the Bible noted, “And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy corn; because the famine was so sore in all lands” (vs. 57).

We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we can be certain of who holds tomorrow. God will supply all our “need”, according to His riches in glory, and He expects His people to be ready and willing to help those who are in lack. Giving is God’s modus operandi, and it should be engrained in the minds of all Saints, to operate the same. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38 KJV). God is the source of all good things, and we can always come to Him to receive those things we have need of.

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell

Yes, He cares

Matthew 6:25-30

In the beginning, God created so many amazing things, including birds that fly in the air, fish to swim in the seas, trees, plants, and all types of flora and fauna that inhabit the entire planet! There are millions of different trees and animals that exist in the earth, that all rely on God’s sustaining hand, to keep them fed. He gives sunlight and rain, so that plants and trees can receive nourishment, and makes certain that all the animals get their daily nutrition as well. God made everything good in the beginning, and still provides for His creation today, from the tiny little bumblebee, to the great oak tree. It’s amazing to even fathom how God pays attention to the smallest details of everything He created! This not only applies to plants and animals, but to you and I as well. To all who feel that God doesn’t, or has stopped caring for them, I strongly advise you to think again. Yes, God looks after things that may last mere moments, but He certainly cares for His people the more. God didn’t create man for jest or nought, but we were fashioned in His own likeness, to inhabit the earth, and spread goodness throughout. If God thinks enough to care for birds and trees, do you have faith enough to believe that He’ll take care of you too?

Walk in love,

Ell

Elijah restores life to a widow’s son

1 Kings 17:17-24

During our seasons of testing and suffering, God will always sustain His people, as long as they remain committed to His agenda. As the inhabitants of Israel continued to suffer from famine, God continued to provide for His prophet, Elijah. When the first place God sent Elijah to rest had ceased from providing water, God prepared the heart of a widow to receive the prophet, and care for his needs for a season. God has a very unique way of bringing people together, in order to fulfill His will. Elijah had no idea the woman wasn’t in a good position to provide for anyone, but God knew that she needed divine intervention, and Elijah was capable of interceding, to bring that to pass. God places people in our lives for seasons, so that they can help take us to the next level, because there will be times when we won’t be capable of getting there on our own.

While the widow woman was gathering sticks one day to prepare the last meal for herself and her son, Elijah approached her, then asked for water to drink. As she left to get water, Elijah also asked if she could bring him something to eat as well. Take a brief moment, and put yourself in the shoes of the woman. God had already told you He was sending a man who needed your help, and in turn, you’d be blessed beyond measure (I’m uncertain how God relayed that message to the woman, but she got it somehow). Would you follow through with the man’s requests, without hesitation, or would your faith waver at the thought of not having enough supplies to care for you and your son? Faith tests aren’t always easy, but the benefits of following through are usually amazing!

Knowing what God had commanded her to do, the woman still felt the need to inform the prophet of her lack of resources. Elijah’s faith in God’s power of provision had already grown stronger after his experience at the brook of Cherith, so he knew that if the woman took care of his need, God would definitely take care of hers. So, the woman did as she was commanded, and was blessed with more than she could ever imagine. Ironically, this miracle wasn’t enough to fully convince the woman that Elijah was a true man of God, and that his words were complete truth. That’s odd, because she had seen the plan of God play out accordingly, but still held doubts. Many of us today are the same way, because God can do something super duper amazing for us, but when something more challenging comes along, we cringe in fear.

Following many days of miraculous increase, the woman’s son got sick, and died. Rather than approach the man of God in humility, and request his assistance for intercession, the woman question whether or not Elijah came to kill her son. Oh how frail we humans become, when times of blessing become moments of sorrow. Elijah took the boy, laid him on his bed, cried to God and asked the same question the widow woman posed to him. Interesting. Elijah stretched himself over the child three times, then asked God to bring life back into the boy. God granted his request. This miracle was more than enough to convince the woman that God lived through Elijah.

Are you fully persuaded in the power of God to take care of you, or do you live in fear that someday you’ll be left broke and destitute. The Bible is filled with examples of God’s grace and mercy on those who are committed to Him, and obey His simple commands. Trust God wholeheartedly, and never doubt that He is able to sustain you, no matter what condition you find yourself in.

Walk in love,

Ell

God provides for the people

Exodus 16:1-8,13-15

In times of great need, people change drastically. For example, when someone is diagnosed with a certain illness, that may require extensive treatment, their attitudes shift from murmuring and complaining, to appreciation and gratefulness, because they then realize the seriousness of life, and the frailty of the human body. Others get antsy and careless in times when their funds are low, which cause them to resort to unwise methods of making money. Trusting God to supply our needs won’t always be an easy thing to do, especially when those needs are dire, and essential, but when He finally releases the blessings we prayed for, they more than make up for all the time we spent waiting patiently for them.

Our lessons this week have been centered around the children of Israel, and their wilderness experiences. After being delivered from oppression in Egypt, God allowed Moses to lead the people on a path to a land flowing with “milk and honey”. God watched His people suffer for years, and had a blessing awaiting them so massive, that if they had only been obedient to His word, they would have indulged in a lifetime of wealth, peace, and prosperity (that’s a topic for another lesson).

A few months after their great escape from Egypt, and miraculous journey through the Red sea, the people apparently had been talking amongst themselves about the leading of God’s chosen men, then brought their complaint to Moses and Aaron. The people said, “…Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full: for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (vs. 3). Wait a minute! Why would they prefer bondage where they could eat good, but were still under oppression, as opposed to being free from slavery, and having the Almighty God standing ready to provide? People are some of the most strange, and unpredictable things of God’s creation. Rather than bask in the awe-inspiring miracles they saw and experienced, they were more focused on how good they had things, while being held against their will in Egypt. If I went to the beach tonight, and God divided the waters, then told me to walk on the dry land for a few moments, (after taking millions of pics of the rising walls of water) I would never doubt that He could do anything in my life after that, let alone provide something as simple as food, or even a light bill. Unfortunately, the children of Israel allowed their natural hunger to supercede their spiritual appetite that desired to be fed as well.

God knows what we need, and when we need them, but He doesn’t move because of our tears or complaints. Yes, He provided for the people when they complained, but I’m apt to believe that His plan was to provide manna and flesh for them the whole time. Look at it this way, if God blessed us everytime we complained about something, imagine how different this world would look. We would be out of control, and spoiled rotten to the core. God knows what He’s doing, and has full understanding of what’s required to sustain us. Rather than murmur and complain when times get hard, and we go through seasons of lack, praise God for all the great things He has already done for you, and look at some of the symbols you hold, that signify moments when God came through for you big time!

Walk in love,

Ell

Conducting daily family duties

Exodus 16:16-21

When God gave a command to the children of Israel, He expected them to be obedient to His word, so that they could enjoy the full benefits of His promises. As mentioned in the previous lesson, God knows what His people have need of, and has a never-ending supply of resources to distribute to all those who bear His righteous name. Knowing that God cares enough to supply all our “need”, according to His riches in glory, one wouldn’t suspect any child of God to become greedy, and expect more than what they actually need. Well, the children of Israel, in the past, always seemed to push their limits with God, even after receiving miraculous blessings.

As they wandered the wilderness, on their way to the promised land, God told Moses He would provide food for them; “flesh” in the evening, and “bread” in the morning. Every day, God would provide enough food for the people to gather from, to feed everyone person, according to their diet. As every man gathered as they were commanded to, Moses told the people to eat their fill, but leave nothing for the next morning. Once again, Israel deliberately disobeyed a direct command and left some of the manna until morning. To their surprise, what they left over had turned into worms, and was “stank”, as the Bible plainly puts it. Why would the people become greedy, knowing that God would provide their daily bread? Many today are just as naive and greedy as the people were in the days of Moses. God blesses us, so that we can in turn, bless others. We can take nothing with us when we leave this earth, so why not extend our extra to those who also have needs? Being greedy proves that a person has little trust that God will provide for them over, and over again. On the contrary, those who’s faith in God is mature and developed, know that God will always provide enough to fill every man’s need.

Do you become greedy at times, and keep all your blessings to yourself, or are you caring enough to show kindness to others after God has blessed you? Don’t be like Israel of the past, by not trusting that God will provide for you daily. Instead, prove to God that your faith and trust in Him is pure, and don’t be afraid to take Him at His word. “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:6-7).

Walk in love,

Ell

Godly trust leads to fruitful life

Jeremiah 17:5-8)l

Men place their trust in many things including security systems in their homes, financial investments for their funds, and medications prescribed by doctors for their health. Although it’s good to protect your property, balance and secure your finances, and monitor your health, much more can be gained when our trust is placed totally in God. When God controls our lives, we won’t have to worry about losing investments, or the stock market plummeting, because God’s resources aren’t affected by man’s systems. The economy of God harbors an endless supply of everything we need to prosper on the earth, and be in good health. Doctors do good in their profession, but up to a certain point. Where their research ends, God’s wisdom is only beginning. God has the power to heal all manner of sickness and disease, and he never runs out of healing. He has enough healing to go around until the end of time.

Trusting in man, over the wisdom of God, leads to a cursed life of lack, drought, and unfruitfulness. I’m amazed at how many people trust in television personalities like Oprah, Dr. Phil, and others with their lives and personal business, when their knowledge is limited to opinion, and does little to actually change people’s lives. Counseling is good, but without the knowledge of God, how much can you really affect a person’s soul? Similar to the previous lesson’s text, this text helps us understand that only when God is our primary focus, will we enjoy life in its fullness. It’s easy to get caught up entertaining the thoughts and ideas of men, because some actually present themselves worthy by using enticing words and manipulative methods, but godly wisdom helps us see past the falsehoods of man, and focus on God’s guiding light.

Every day, the believer should bring forth some type of fruit. Whether it be love, joy, peace, or any other beneficial godly attribute, our lives should be lived producing positive works and deeds daily. With God before us, there’s no reason we should allow anything to keep us from living a blessed and fruitful life, but be mindful not to give in to the opinions of worldly men over the all-knowing wisdom of the God who created all things.

Walk in love,

Ell