Key Scripture: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

The God that Supplies in the New Testament

Some People Never Learn

Three times Jesus teaches the disciples the same lesson. Three times they failed the same test.

Test # 1 – Mark 6:35-39

“By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him.” This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five-and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass” (NIV).

• There was an overwhelming need – thousands of people needing to be fed.
• Jesus says, “You give them something to eat.”
• The disciples focus on the impossible.
• Jesus asks, “How many loaves of bread do you have?”
• He directs that all should sit down.

Test# 2 – Mark 8:1-6

“During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”  His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”  “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so” (NIV)

• This time the Master Teacher identifies the overwhelming need.
• The disciples focus on the problem—again.
• Jesus asks—again, “How many loaves do you have?”
• He instructs—again—that the people should down.
• The test score for the disciples—Failed—again!

So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake. But the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any food, so there was only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”  They decided he was saying this because they hadn’t brought any bread (Mark 8:14-15, NLT).

Test Three- Mark  8:14-21

Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them ten questions

1. Why are you so worried about having no food?
2. Won’t you ever learn or understand?
3. Are your hearts too hard to take it in?
4. You have eyes — can’t you see?
5. You have ears — can’t you hear?
6. Don’t you remember anything at all?
7. What about the five thousand men I fed with five loaves of bread?
8. How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward? (Twelve)
9. And when I fed the four thousand with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up? (Seven)
10. Don’t you understand even yet?

The fourth time they understood the deeper implications. In Mark 14:22 He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples. He is the Bread of Life (Read John 6:35-36; 48-51). When He earlier asked, “How many loaves do you have?” it was a loaded question. He was the “one loaf” with His disciples in the boat.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:  “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”   Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:8-10, NIV). The context deals with giving generously and the preceding verses are directed at the believers. However, notice:

• God is able to make all grace (referring to God’s spiritual and material provision) abound to you.
• The results of grace: God’s people will have all they need, anytime they need it.
• His righteousness endures forever. You can count on God to do what is right—all the time.
• God promises not only what we need, but more than we need—a surplus. God not only supplies our needs but also an increase. Why? He wants us to be able to share with others.
• Paul is also referring to the law of sowing and reaping in this chapter.  We will have a “harvest of righteousness.” The more the farmer sows, the greater the harvest.

The God that Supplies in the Old Testament

“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed” (Psalms 37:25-26).

In the Old Testament God became known as Jehovah-Jireh—the Lord that Provides (Genesis 22:4-14).  He showed His presence, power, and provision to His people in the wilderness. He proved that He had unlimited resources, and that no situation was too difficult for Him.  His people could depend on Him! He supplied: pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22; Numbers 14:14); pillar of cloud by day (Exodus 13:21-22); (bread) manna from heaven (Psalm 105:40; Exodus 16:13-18); water out of a rock (Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:11; Psalm 105:41); and clothing and shoes that never wore out (Deuteronomy 8:3-4)

Other bread stories to consider:  1 Kings 17:8-16; 2 Kings 4:42-44.

Conclusion

“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:8-9, NASU). God is looking for people He can show His great power in helping them. He muscularly supports the committed.