Today, we want to address the issue of financial challenges especially in these difficult times so as to bring hope, understanding and encouragement to all.
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8).
Whatever you are facing right now, be it financial, medical, emotional or marital challenges, you can know this for certain: God has promised to provide for your every need (Phil. 4:19; Matt. 6:31-32, 33-34).
What does the Bible say about divine provision?
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (lack anything)” (Ps. 23:1).
“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing” (Ps. 34:10).
“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Ps. 37:25).
“I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it” (Ps. 81:10).
“Who giveth food to all flesh: for His mercy endureth forever” (Ps. 136:25).
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8).
“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).
“According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:3).
We shall use Prophet Elijah (1 Ki. 17:4-9) as an example of how God provides for His children. There are principles guiding God’s provision and this includes:
1. Where God guides (leads), He provides. God will always provide for those that follow His instructions.
When you follow God’s instruction, there is always a provision that is attached to it.
Prophet Elijah said to king Ahab, “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word” (1 Ki. 17:1).
God provides only for the one He is leading. In this difficult season you should focus mainly on God’s guidance rather than His provision. This because when you follow God’s leading, you will always find yourself in His provision.
For instance, God instructed Abraham to go to the land of Moriah to offer Isaac there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains He will tell him (Gen. 22:1-18).
As Abraham obeyed, God provided the ram for the sacrifice. The ram was caught in a thicket by its horns – Jehovah Jireh (Gen. 22:13-14).
One thing is certain, God will never lead you to a place that He cannot provide for you (Ps. 23:1-6).
For instance, what is His leading concerning your finances?
3 John v. 2 says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” See Gen. 8:22; Mal. 3:8-12; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-8.
What is His leading concerning your marriage? “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers” (2 Cor. 6:14-18).
2. God provides for those who fear Him. God provided for prophet Elijah because he feared the LORD (1 Ki. 17). The two instructions God gave him here, he obeyed them.
“The secret of the LORD is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant” (Ps. 25:14).
“Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine” (Ps. 33:18).
“O fear the LORD, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him” (Ps. 34:9).
3. Where God provides, He protects.
Elijah wasn’t only provided for, he was also protected. God lead Elijah not only to where He fed him, but also to a place where he protected him (1 Ki. 17:3-4).
God’s protection is part of His provision (Mal. 3:11; Prov. 18:10; Ps. 34:7; 2 Thess. 3:3; Ps. 17:8). Be grateful not just for what God brings to you, but also for what He keeps you from.
4. When God provides, it may not always be in surplus, but in sufficiency. Even if God does not give you exactly what you want, He will always give you what you need.
Elijah was a prophet of God, but God did not shower him with abundance, but He gave him just enough for each day. Even when He provided manna for the children of Israel in the wilderness for 40 years, it was for each day.
For 40 years the children of Israel ate in sufficiency in the wilderness. Notice that God did not bring Elijah to Atlantic Ocean. Rather, He brought him to a brook.
Brooks are unreliable because they can dry up at any time. You must trust God for your daily sustenance (provision).
Ravens are also very unreliable. They don’t bring food to people, they steal food from people. So, everything Elijah had was unreliable, unpredictable and not permanent.
Therefore, be grateful for the season you are in now. Don’t complain for what you don’t have. But thank God for what you have.
5. When God provides, it is both natural and supernatural. You should work hard but also believe God for miracles - the supernatural.
“So then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy…” (Rom. 9:16).
God provided for Prophet Elijah, the woman of Zarephath, the Bible School student under Elisha. My God specialized in impossibilities. He will miraculously provide for you too.
6. When God provides, the blessings show up from the most unlikely places. Remember that ravens are not honest or clean animals, but God used them to provide for Elijah. That is to say that God can use the unexpected to provide for you. After all He used a donkey to speak to Balaam.
7. When God’s provision comes to an end, it is time to look out for the next season that God has for you. When one door closes, God opens a better one for you.
If your brook is dried up, it is time to pray for the next season. Do not pray for the brook to be resuscitated, rather pray for the next door God is opening for you. He will surely make a way for you. Know when to change your direction, your business. No matter what, God is still your Provider, but the means by which He provides for you has changed.
8. When God provides for you it is good. But when He provides through you, it is better. God desires to provide for others through you.
At the brook only, Elijah was provided for (1 Ki. 17:2-6). But in the house of the Zarephath woman, a whole family was fed (1 Ki. 17:9-16).
God wants you to have all sufficiency in all things so that you can be a blessing to others (2 Cor. 9:8).
Conclusion: Provision is not only an attribute of God, but it is also one of God’s promises. Therefore, be encouraged that you can take your needs to the One who has everything you need.
Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!
- Your friend: I. I. MADUBUNYI (Senior Pastor) 21st Feb., 2024 @ HQs
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