God’s Provision Comes by Faith (Part I)
Acts Chapter 27 & Chapter 28: 1-23
Paul was given a way of escape, regardless of the perils and dangers, and challenges in life; God our provider, our deliverer always provides a way of escape out of temptation. Paul being committed to his calling and his mission; a chosen vessel; full of the Spirit of God; and led of the Spirit; was able to demonstrate the power of an ever present God. He is a God that can make a way out of no way; a very present help in the time of trouble. God prepared and prepares the hearts of strangers, and would be enemies to receive the man of faith. Paul was confident and exhibited leadership. Paul exercised his faith; he prayed, lay on hands and healed the sick. Paul’s faith allowed others to perceive God. He was thought to be a God, but it was the power of God working through him. God’s Provision comes by Faith. Jehovah Jireh, God will provide. He will because he’s able. God is able-to make a way out of no way-turn your mid-nights into day-open doors you cannot see, doors that no man can open. He can make the crooked straight-he can make the rough smooth. God’s Provision comes by Faith. Provision means to supply. God promised to supply our need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. You need Jesus! Are your needs being met? Do you have Jesus (the anointing that abides within)? Christ is the anointed one-Jesus is the Christ. If you don’t have Jesus you can’t have faith. What is faith? Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Without hope there is no need for faith. God’s Provision comes by Faith. There are three points I would like to lift here: Point #1-You need to have a conception and perception of God. Conception has to do with comprehending, understanding, and formulating an idea. Do you have an idea of who God is? Can you define God? It’s impossible to define God. The finite cannot define the infinite. The best way is to just say GOD ISâ¦. Hebrews 11:6 states; that it is impossible to please him without faith.Perception is grasping the knowledge of understanding, awareness, and insight (coming to a point of belief). You must believe that God is. Point #2 is Trust – you have to trust in God. Faith translated is trust. Jesus is the hope of our faith, and God is the object of our faith. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord (Psalms 40:4). We trust what God has promised. We’re living on the promises of God. He cannot lie. The two immutable things of God are: He changes not and He’s not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent (Heb. 6:18). Point #3-You have to exercise your faith (enact, engage, do something). Be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22). Faith without works is dead (James 2:20). Jesus told his disciples he would give them the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever they shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever thou shall loose on earth, shall beloosed in heaven (Matt. 16:9). It’s not enough to say or claim to have faith. Exercising your faith is the evidence of things not seen. A man hopeth not for that which he sees (Rom.8:24, 25). Jesus is the hope of our faith. He is our eternal hope of glory. We can’t see Jesus right now. He told his disciples “the poor you will have with you always, but me you have not always” (Matt. 26:11). How much faith is not the issue. You can have faith the size of a grain of mustard seed, and speak or say to the mountain be thou removed (Mark 11:23). This is where we lose out, fall short. We don’t exercise our faith. (Proverbs 18:21) states: that death and life is in the power of the tongue. The Apostle Paul said to call those things which are not, as if they were (Romans 4:17b). Jesus said in (John 6:63) “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life”. The Provision of God comes when we exercise our faith. God wants to bless you. God is looking for someone to bless (II Chron.16:9). If you’re lacking today, maybe it’s because you’re not exercising your faith! If you fail to exercise your faith, you nullify Gods’ provision (you block your blessing). Where is your faith in God? Is there any substance and evidence of your faith? In the way you talk? In the way you walk (live)? Where you go? The company you keep? In your works? Are you bearing any fruit? In Revelations 20:12 it says we will be judged according to our works. Faith without works is dead (James 2:20). Have we shared the word of God with anyone? Have we prayed for or with someone? Have we visited the sick, laid on hands, anointed with oil, and prayed for healing? Have you clothed the naked? Have you fed the hungry? Jesus has a genuine concern; Jesus said “when the son of man returns will he find faith”? (Luke 18:8).
As we approach this Thanksgiving season, we need to be thankful for the provision of God in our lives, and give thanks! O give thanks unto the Lord: call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. (Psalms 105:1).For he is worthy of our praise, and he is great and greatly to be praised. He has given us everything pertaining to life. He came that we might have life and have life more abundantly. The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. All the promises of God are yes and amen. He promised to supply our need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. We need to worship him for who he is (Jehovah Jireh) God will provide. Thank him for what he has already done. Praise him for what he is doing. Yet praise him for what he is yet to do. If you believe in God then believe God. That is, in what thus saith, the Lord. If he said it then believe it and that settles it, which means it is a done deal, a finished work. He is obligated to perform his word, he cannot lie. Let’s glorify God for his Divine Providence.
Divine Providence is the continual manifestation of the prophetic word of truth in our daily lives. It is the compassion of God’s mercy toward us (have mercy Lord). It is the sufficiency of God’s grace for us (God’s grace is sufficient). It is the purity of the sacrificial and unconditional love of God for us (Agape Love). He makes the sun to shine on the good as well as the bad. He allows it to rain on the just as well as the unjust. He has given seed to the sower that there may be bread for the eater. Give us this day our daily bread. I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. This thanksgiving no one should suffer lack. If you have favor and have been blessed with abundance and overflow, you are blessed to be a blessing. Share your abundance and overflow with someone in lack. By your unselfish act of love and kindness God will answer someone in prayer.
May God continue to bless you with the blessings you stand in need of; Amen…Amen.. Amen. Happy Thanksgiving!