Times Two pt8—Provision In Any Environment

Times Two pt8—Provision In Any Environment

[2Ki 4:38-44 NASB95]

“All you have been preaching is about money.” A possible criticism. We are following the sequence of miracles of Elijah and Elisha.

We see that the provision of material needs is mentioned many times. Why? God knows we need to learn how to have our needs met supernaturally. (NOTE: there is more to it than wanting God to help and worrying about it.)

We are combining two miracle stories (8&9) about the provision of food.

What do these two stories reveal about supernatural provision?

Here are four revelations from these stories about supernatural provision.

God’s provision works in any environment.

V38 – both of these miracles came at a time of famine.

[Gen 31:7, 12-13 NASB95]

[Phl 4:12, 17-19 NASB95]

Learn that God will provide in any and all circumstances.

God will give you a divine strategy.

V41 & 43-44 – God told them what to do to prosper.

[Gen 31:8-10 NASB95]

[Gen 30:41-43 NASB95]

Often, God will give you a plan for how He wants you to prosper.

Ask God for the plan to prosper.

God will meet the need and then some.

V. 41 & 44 – This is called prosperity.

[Pro 10:22 NASB95]

[Mar 8:14-21 NASB95]

Matthew 6:11 – NRSV note: Or our bread for tomorrow…

LITS Commentary – Bread symbolizes all material needs. Jesus explains the necessity of depending on God for basic needs in 6:24–34.

NET Bible note: “Give us bread today for the coming day,”

Robertson’s Word Pictures in NT: It clearly comes from epi and iōn like tēi epiousēi (“on the coming day,” “the next day,” Acts 16:12).

Unlike conventional thinking, this is the opposite of the “manna” living of the OT. Jesus intended for us to pray for excess. (CF: 2 Cor. 9:8 – sufficiency and abundance.)

God is interested in the immediate and future needs.

Start asking God for immediate and future needs.

God wants us to learn to trust Him.

Both of these stories are here for a reason.

Jesus said… how will you receive greater. Mark 8:17-21 (see above.)

Paul connects our faith in God, who gave us Jesus, to God, Who gave us everything else.

[Rom 8:32 NASB95]

Trust Him for eternal salvation and temporal provision.

God wants to provide for us in any environment by giving us a divine strategy that will more than meet our immediate needs as we continue to grow to trust Him.

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