Supply

1. GOD CAN SUPPLY ALL OUR NEEDS:

A. He has promised to supply our needs:

Psalm 23:1   The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want [lack]

Psalm 34:10   They that seek the Lord shall not [lack] any good thing

Psalm 37:25   I [have] not seen righteous forsaken … begging bread

Matthew 6:33   Seek ye first the kingdom of God … and all these things shall be added unto you

Matthew 7:7–11   Every one that asketh receiveth … your Father [shall] give good things to them that ask him

Romans 8:32   He that spared not his own son … shall he not also freely give us all things?

Philippians 4:19   God shall supply all your need according to his riches

  (See also Deuteronomy 2:7; Psalm 68:19; 81:10; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 6:8,25–34.)

B. God is the source of all supply:

1 Chronicles 29:14   All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee

Psalm 104:13–15   He causeth … herb [to grow] for man: that he may bring forth good out of the earth

Psalm 145:15–16   Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing

James 1:17   Every good gift … is from above, and cometh from [God]

  (See also Psalm 65:9–13; Genesis 1:29; 9:3.)

C. He owns the entire world:

Exodus 19:5   All the earth is mine

Psalm 24:1   The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof

Psalm 50:10–11   Every beast is mine … and the cattle upon a thousand hills

Psalm 89:11   The earth is thine: the world and the fullness thereof

2. GOD CAN DO MIRACLES TO SUPPLY:

Numbers 11:21–23   [God promised meat for a month, Moses doubted it, so] the Lord said, “Is the Lord’s hand waxed short?”

2 Kings 4:1–6   [The prophet’s widow borrowed vessels and they miraculously filled with enough oil to pay her debts]

A. Food:

Exodus 16:12–15   [God miraculously supplied quail and manna in desert]

Numbers 11:18–20   [God sent a month’s supply of quail] (See also 11:31–32.)

Psalm 78:23–29   He opened the doors of heaven, and rained down manna … corn of heaven … angel’s food … meat to  the full (See also Psalm 105:40.) 

Psalm 132:15   I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread

1 Kings 17:4   I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there

1 Kings 17:16   The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail [during the 3½-year famine]

1 Kings 19:5–8   An angel said unto [Elijah], “Arise and eat” … and behold, a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water

2 Kings 4:42–43   [Elisha fed 100, multiplying 20 loaves and some corn]

Mark 6:34–44   [Jesus fed 5,000 men, besides women and children, by multiplying five loaves and two fishes] (See also Matthew 14:21.)

Mark 8:1–9   [Jesus fed 4,000, multiplying seven loaves]

Revelation 12:6,14   [Church “fed, nourished” for 3½ years in the wilderness]

  (See also Psalm 23:5; Luke 5:4–7; John 21:5–6,11.)

B. Water:

Genesis 21:14–19   [Hagar dying of thirst, God showed her a well]

Exodus 17:1–6   [At Horeb, God brought water out of a rock]

Numbers 20:2,7–11   [At Meribah, God again brought water from a rock]

Judges 15:15–19   [God supplied water from a jawbone for Samson]

2 Kings 3:9,17,20   [God miraculously supplied water for an army]

  (See also Psalm 78:15–16; 105:41; Isaiah 41:17–18.)

C. God can even purify impure food and water:

Exodus 15:23–25   [Bitter waters of Marah miraculously made sweet]

2 Kings 2:19–22   [Undrinkable waters of Jericho healed]

2 Kings 4:38–41   [Poisonous gourd in the pottage rendered harmless]

  (See also Mark 16:18.)

D. Clothing and other necessities:

Deuteronomy 29:5   I have led you forty years … your clothes are not waxen old … thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot

Matthew 6:25–26,30   If God clothe the grass … shall He not … clothe you?

  (See also Genesis 3:21.)

3. SUPPLY DURING FAMINE:

A. Famines predicted in the last days:

Matthew 24:3,7   [In] the end of the world … there shall be famines … in diverse places

Mark 13:8   There shall be famines and troubles

B. God promises to feed us during famines:

Job 5:19–20   In famine he [God] shall redeem thee from death

Psalm 33:18–19   The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him … to keep them alive in famine

Psalm 37:18–19   The Lord knoweth the days of the upright … in the days of famine they shall be satisfied

Proverbs 10:3   The Lord will not suffer [allow] … the righteous to famish

Ezekiel 36:29–30   I will increase [the corn], and lay no famine upon you. I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and … of the field

C. He sometimes warns His people so they can make preparations:

Genesis 41:25–36,47–49  [God showed Joseph and Pharaoh that a famine was coming and they prepared for it by storing away food]

Acts 11:27–30   [God warned that a dearth was coming, and believers sent relief money to their affected brethren]

  (See also Amos 3:7.)

4. CONDITIONS TO GOD’S SUPPLY:

A. We must please God and be obedient:

Matthew 6:33   Seek first the kingdom of God … and all things shall be added unto you

2 Chronicles 1:7–12   [God gave King Solomon fabulous riches and wealth when he sought the good of the kingdom first]

Psalm 34:9–10   There is no want [lack] to them that fear him … They that seek Lord shall not [lack] any good thing

Psalm 37:3   Do good … and verily thou shalt be fed

Psalm 37:18–19   The Lord knoweth … the upright … in the days of famine they shall be satisfied

Psalm 37:25   I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken … begging bread

Psalm 84:11   No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly

Proverbs 13:25   Righteous eateth to satisfying … wicked shall [lack]

Isaiah 1:19   If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land

1 John 3:22   Whatsoever we ask, we receive … because we keep his commandments, and do … things … pleasing in his sight

  (See also Deuteronomy 11:10–15; 29:9; Psalm 111:5.)

B. Examples of obeying and doing our part first:

1 Kings 17:2–5   Get thee hence … and hide by the brook of Cherith … ravens feed thee there. So he went

1 Kings 17:9–10   Arise, get thee to Zarepath. So he arose and went

2 Kings 4:1–6   Go borrow … of all thy neighbours empty vessels, borrow not a few. So she went and [did] 

Matthew 17:27   Go cast an hook, and take up the fish … thou shalt find a piece of money [in its mouth]

Luke 5:4–6   Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets

John 2:1–10   Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them

John 11:39   Take [roll] ye away the stone

John 21:5–6   Cast the net on right side of the ship … they cast

C. Pray, believe God’s Word, and depend on Him to supply:

Matthew 7:7   Ask, and it shall be given; knock, and it shall be opened

Matthew 21:22   All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive

Hebrews 11:6   He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him

  (See also 2 Chronicles 26:5; Isaiah 45:11; Matthew 9:29.)

D. Remember to thank Him for supplying:

Psalm 68:19   Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits

Psalm 116:12–14,17–18 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits? I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving

5. REASONS WHY WE SOMETIMES LACK:

A. Because of sin:

Jeremiah 5:25   Your sins have withholden good things from you

  (See also Psalm 81:15–16; James 4:3.)

B. Lack of faith or failure to ask:

James 1:6–7   [Wavering and not asking in faith]

James 4:2   Ye have not, because ye ask not

C. Laziness:

2 Thessalonians 3:10   If any would not work, neither should he eat

Proverbs 13:4   The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing

Proverbs 20:4   Sluggard will not plow … therefore shall have nothing

Proverbs 21:25   The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour (See also Proverbs 23:21.)

D. To keep us dependent upon God and His supply:

Deuteronomy 31:20   When they … have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn to other gods

Proverbs 30:8–9   Give me [not] riches … lest I be full and deny Thee

  (See also 1 Timothy 6:10,17; Revelation 3:17–19.)

E. To show us that it’s time for change:

1 Kings 17:7–9   [When the brook dried, it was time for Elijah to move]

  (See also Genesis 26:1–3; Ruth 1:1–6; 2 Kings 8:1–2.)

6. GOD LOVES YOU AND WANTS TO SUPPLY:

A. He knows what you need and is looking after you:

Matthew 6:8   Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him

Matthew 6:25,31–32  Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or drink … [God] knoweth that ye need all these things

B. If God provides for the unbelievers …

(See Matthew 5:45; Acts 14:15–17.)

C. … if He even provides the needs of animals …

(See Genesis 1:30; 6:14–22; Psalm 104:21,26–28; 147:8–9.)

D. … won’t He much more care for you?

(See Matthew 6:26,30; Psalm 34:10; 145:15–16; 2 Corinthians 9:8.)

7. WE SHOULD DO OUR PART:

A. Our responsibility to provide:

1 Timothy 5:8   If any provide not for … those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel

B. Working for our needs:

Acts 20:35   How that labouring ye ought to support the weak

Ephesians 4:28   Let him labour, working with his hands thing which is good

1 Thessalonians 4:11–12  Work with your own hands … that ye may lack nothing

2 Thessalonians 3:10–12   Some work not at all … if any would not work, neither should he eat

Titus 3:14   Let ours learn to maintain good works [profess honest trades] for necessary uses

  (See also Genesis 41:39–44; Daniel 2:48–49; 6:1–3; 8:27.)

C. God blesses diligent, hard work:

Genesis 31:38–40   [Jacob’s example of diligent shepherding]

Genesis 39:1–6   [God blessed Joseph’s hard work] (See also 39:20–23.)

Proverbs 10:4   The hand of the diligent maketh rich (See also Proverbs 13:4; 22:29; 21:25; Ecclesiastes 5:18.)

Proverbs 28:19   He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he  that followeth vain persons … poverty

Matthew 25:14–30   [The reward of the diligent servants who increased their talents] 

8. WHEN GOD USES OTHERS TO SUPPLY HIS WORKERS’ NEEDS:

A. Well-off supporters often helped God’s messengers:

Genesis 47:1–6   [Pharaoh gave the best land in Egypt, Goshen, to Joseph’s father and brothers]

1 Kings 18:3,13   [Governor Obadiah risked his life to save and feed 100 of God’s prophets]

2 Kings 4:8–11   [Rich woman of Shunem supplied food and lodging for Elisha and his servant]

Nehemiah 2:7–8   [King Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah permission to take as much timber as he needed from the king’s forest]

Jeremiah 37:15–21   [King Zedekiah defied Jeremiah’s enemies and commanded Jeremiah be given bread continually]

Daniel 2:48–49   [King Nebuchadnezzar gives Daniel power and “many great gifts,” and gave his friends high positions]

Luke 8:1–3   [Joanna and other wealthy women helped support Jesus]

  (See also Romans 16:23; Philemon 1:1–2,7,22.)

B. Don’t abuse others’ generosity:

1 Corinthians 7:31   They that use this world, as not abusing it

C. God’s workers to be supported by those to whom they minister:

2 Kings 4:42  A man … brought [Elisha] bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves and corn [to feed his 100 disciples]

Matthew 10:9-10  Provide neither gold, nor silver in your purses … for the workman is worthy of his meat

Luke 22:35  When I sent you without purse … lacked ye any thing? And they said, “Nothing.”

1 Corinthians 9:7-14  The Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel

1 Timothy 5:18  Shalt not muzzle ox that treadeth the corn. The labourer is worthy of his hire (See also Deuteronomy 25:4; Luke 10:7.)

  (See also Acts 28:7–10.)

D. Staying as a guest at someone’s house:

Matthew 10:11   In whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who is worthy; and there abide

Luke 10:7–8   In the same house remain, eating [what] they give

  (See also 1 Kings 17:8–16,24; Acts 10:5–6; 16:14–15;   17:5,7; 18:2–4; Romans 16:23; Philemon 1:22.)

E. But don’t overstay your welcome:

Proverbs 25:17   Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee; and so hate thee

F. Accepting invitations to a meal:

Matthew 9:9–10   [Jesus and disciples ate with Matthew] (See also Luke 5:29.)

Luke 7:36   One of the Pharisees desired that he would eat with him

Luke 19:1–6   [Jesus invited himself to eat at Zacchaeus’ house]

1 Corinthians 10:27   If any [unbelievers] bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat

G. Refusing invitations to a meal:

1 Kings 13:7–9,15–17 [Young prophet ordered by God to refuse invitations] (See also 13:18–24.)

Proverbs 15:17   Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than [steak] and hatred therewith (See also Daniel 1:5,8,12–16.)

Proverbs 23:6–8   Eat not the bread of him that hath an evil eye

H. Share amongst yourselves what God has already given you:

Acts 2:44–45   [They] parted them to all men, as every man had need

Acts 4:32   They had all things common

Acts 4:35   Distribution was made unto every man according as he had need

Acts 11:29   Every man according to his ability [sent] relief

2 Corinthians 8:12–15  That … your abundance may be a supply for their want [lack] that there may be equality … He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack (See also Exodus 16:18.)

9. GIVING TO GOD’S WORK:

1 Samuel 25:2–8   [David sent men to ask Nabal, a great and rich—but wicked—man, to donate food to him and his men]

1 Samuel 27:5,7   [David asked for place to stay for sixteen months]

Mark 11:1–7   [Jesus’ disciples requested a donkey for Him to ride]

Mark 14:12–16   [Jesus’ disciples asked for the use of an upper room, already furnished and prepared]

Luke 5:1–3   [Jesus asked for the use of a boat to preach from]

John 4:6–7   [Jesus asked for a drink of water]

10. GOD PROMISES TO PROSPER OUR WORK AND BUSINESSES:

A. Financially:

Deuteronomy 28:1–13   [Mighty promises of prosperity to the faithful]

Psalm 112:1,3   Blessed is the man … that delighteth greatly in His commandments … wealth shall be in his house

Proverbs 10:22   Blessing of the Lord maketh rich, he addeth no sorrow 

B. Other ways God prospers His people:

(See Genesis 39:2; Leviticus 26:3–13; Deuteronomy 29:9; 30:9; 2 Chronicles 26:5;  Psalm 107:35–38; 127:3–5; Isaiah 3:10; Ezekiel 34:26; Acts 14:17.)

11. GOD SUPPLIES OUR NEEDS, NOT ALWAYS OUR WANTS:

A. Be content and do not desire more than you need:

Psalm 37:16  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked

Proverbs 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith

Proverbs 30:8  Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food  convenient for me

Luke 12:15  Beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in abundance of things which he possesseth

2 Corinthians 6:10  As poor … having nothing, and yet possessing all things

Philippians 4:11  I have learned, in whatever state I am … to be content

1 Timothy 6:6-8  Godliness with contentment is great gain … having food and raiment let us be therewith content

Hebrews 13:5  Let your [life] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have

  (See also Psalm 62:10; 119:36; Proverbs 17:1; 23:5.)

B. Dangers of discontent and murmuring:

Exodus 16:3   [Longing for fleshpots of Egypt, and complaining that God will let them die of hunger]

Numbers 21:5–6   [The people complained against the manna and were attacked by fiery serpents]

1 Samuel 15:3,9,22–23   [Saul disobeyed God’s orders to utterly destroy, saving the best of the goods. God rejected Saul as king]

Psalm 73:3–20   [Warning not to envy the prosperity of worldly wicked]

Psalm 78:15–21   [Israelites miraculously received water, then doubtingly  murmured for meat. God judged them]