The Provisional Hand of God

SERMON STARTER

          Our culture is and has always been obsessed about materialism and money. The value ascribed to money and what it can buy is a misplaced one to say the least. In the Kingdom of God that Jesus preached and taught about, money and material things are transient. Value is ascribed in Christ’s Kingdom to people, relationships and love. The gulf between these two values is so great that many cannot grasp it. That’s why Jesus said it clearly in Matthew 7:14, “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

          God’s Provisional Hand isn’t found by learning to memorize and recite a few scriptures about faith in God’s Provision. That’s simply magical thinking. We can find His Hand of Provision by learning where His Heart and Hand are at work and then doing it with Him. He stated it clearly in John 5:30, "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”  Jesus explained more clearly in John 5:19, “Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”

          So what is God’s Will and what do we see the Father doing? We see glimpses of Him among the poor. We see His attentive ear to their cries. He is not blind to their distress and to the injustice in their lives. This sermon explores the operation of God’s provision and rejoices in His provision of Jesus, His Son.

 

Pastor Phil  <><<

 

August 23, 2009

Sheepfold Ministries, Pastor Phil Roland

 

The Provisional Hand of God

Isaiah 55:1-5

“God’s Hand of Provision has been my companion my whole life. He is our incredible source through every dark and difficult time. You can trust Him.”                                                                                                                                      Pastor Phil

 

I. WHAT ARE YOUR NEEDS? Isaiah 55:1

    "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money,

     Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without

     price.”

          A. Physical Needs: Water/Food/Air/People

                        1. Thirsty? Come to the waters

                        2. Hungry? Buy and eat

            B. Spiritual Needs – Psalm 37:4

                 “Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of                     your heart.”

                        1. Jesus fed His spirit – John 4:

                           “In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

                             But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not

                             know." Therefore the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone

                             brought Him anything to eat?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to

                             do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

                                    a. Accomplish God’s Will

                                    b. Finish His Work

                        2. We feed upon God’s Word – Psalm 34:8

                           “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who

                             trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want

                             to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger;

                             But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.”

                        3. He is our delight both day and night – Psalm 63:6,7

                            “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night                                 watches. Because You have been my help, Therefore in the

                              shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.”

                                                   

II. YOU DON’T NEED MONEY -  Isaiah 55:2

          A.  Are you broke: Buy without Money

                   1. God isn’t limited by money

                        2. God isn’t gold / Gold isn’t God

            B. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills – Psalm 50:10

               “For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.”

                   1. God owns it all – Psalm 24:1

                           “The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those

                             who dwell therein.”

                        2. God’s Storehouse is able to meet your need – Phil. 4:19

                           “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in                               glory by Christ Jesus.”

            C. Trusting in money is like storing $$$ in a bag w/holes – Haggai 1:6

                "You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have                               enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe

                  yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages

                  to put into a bag with holes."

            D. Your treasure is in the Lord – Matthew 6:21

            "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

 

III. YOUR ULTIMATE NEED IS IN THE LORD – Isa. 55:3a

    “Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live;”

          A. You need Him for who He is – Matthew 6:33

            "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these                               things shall be added to you.”

                        1. End the constant search for Materialism and Acquisition

                        2. Begin life grasping / End life divesting

            B. Jesus sought God for Himself, not what He can do

            C. Isaiah invokes God’s Promise to David – Isa. 55:3b

                 “And I will make an everlasting covenant with you; The sure mercies of                      David.”

                        1. Davidic Covenant was an everlasting covenant

                        2. David loved God and God loved him

            D. We need God more than we need air, food and water

 

IV. GOD’S PROVISIONAL HAND IS THROUGH HIS SON

            A. God has provided His Salvation through His Son – 1 Jn. 5:

                 “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this

                   life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have

                   the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you

                   who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you

                   have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of

                   the Son of God.”

            B. Come to Jesus and be filled - John 7:37,38

                 “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out,                       saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  "He who

                   believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow

                   rivers of living water."

            C. Never thirst again for water that cannot satisfy - John 4:13,14

               “Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst

                 again, "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never

                 thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of

                 water springing up into everlasting life."

            B. Know Jesus, know peace – No Jesus, No peace

 

The Provisional Hand of God, text:

ISAIAH 55:1-5

55:1  "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.

2  Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

3  Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you; The sure mercies of David.

4  Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people.

5  Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, And nations who do not know you shall run to you, Because of the LORD your God, And the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you."