Today, we continue getting back to the small things which are the big things to God. We’re getting back to the elemental parts of this amazing thing that Jesus created called church from the book of Acts.
Church Elements.
So far, we learned about two pairs of foundational church elements, praise/prayer and persuasion/power.
We started last week learning about a church element that often results from our prayers to and praise of God that release God’s power and persuasion to be witnesses and to reach the lost; provision.
To say that God is a provider is one of the greatest understatements of all time!
James 1:17 (AMP)
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].
In the early church, there were no needs because of the attitude and practice of generosity that existed. Nobody claimed anything as their owns, but everything was God’s. Anytime that needs arose, others gave to meet those needs.
This worked because ultimately God was their provider and source as everyone was living by adventurous faith in obedience to Him. When we live according to His word, when we live in such a way as to entrust everything to Him, ALL IN!, He releases provision that can only be described as good and perfect!
In fact, God is so good that He even provides for wicked and evil people who care nothing about God nor His values or commands.
Asaph struggled with this reality. How is it that things seem so upside-down here in this lifetime? Wicked people prosper and righteous people struggle to make ends meet.
Psalm 73:12-17
12 This is what the wicked are like –
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
God’s goodness and mercy and provision are expressions of who He is, not how good someone is. In the end, no amount of worldly wealth will matter. Unless the wicked have a revelation that it is only because of God’s goodness and mercy that they have such provision and repent of their wicked ways, their final destruction will be the loss of it all along with their souls.
David had this same revelation.
Psalm 36:1-9
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.
3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
they fail to act wisely or do good.
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;
they commit themselves to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong.
As David was lamenting over the sin and evil of wicked people, it’s as if though God lifted his focus up off of them and onto the Lord as the tone of the song changes into praise!
5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
It was just like the manna that God provided for His people as they wandered through the desert even though they were walking in rebellion grumbling against Him. Even though their hearts were hard, God showed that His Spirit could break through that hardness and release provision just like the water from the rock in the middle of the desert!
Even then, God made sure that their shoes never wore out and that their needs were always met. Even if that meant that those shoes that never wore out meant walking around aimlessly in doubt. Even if that meant that they were living out their days just to die in the desert on the threshold of the promised land.
God still faithfully provided for them because that is who He is!
How much more will God faithfully provide for those who are earnestly seeking after Him?
How much more will God provide for those who hunger and thirst for His Presence and His promises?
Jesus said:
Matthew 10:29-31
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
OK, now here’s the balance part. Here is where we take into account the WHOLE counsel of God. Here is where we allow scripture to interpret scripture to maintain a healthy balance.
Remember how things were back in the garden, even before sin corrupted everything?
God and Adam were co-laborers.
God planted and grew, Adam worked and stewarded.
That is still true today.
God provides the sparrows worms and bugs to eat, but they don’t just sit there in their nest with their mouths open waiting for God. They were created and purposed to fly out of that nest every day and obtain that provision. Not only for themselves, but also for their families until they grow and mature enough to go get their own provisions and start their own families.
In the morning, when the layer of dew dried up from the desert ground, thin flakes like frost appeared. This was the bread God provided for His people to eat. They called it manna, which means, “What is it?”
God provided just what the people needed 6 out of the 7 days a week. On the sixth day, He provided enough for them to keep overnight and eat on the 7th Sabbath day. If they kept any of it overnight any other day, it would rot and be filled with maggots.
God provided exactly enough every day. Those who gathered much didn’t have too much and those who gathered little didn’t have too little. God provided, but the people had to gather it.
If this is how God purposed the sparrows, if this is how God co-labored with Adam, if this is how God provided daily bread for His people in the dessert, it is still true for each of us now as well.
If we are able to bring in provision by working, then we ought to. Working is not doubting God’s ability TO provide, it is an expression of faith IN God’s ability to provide. It is being a good steward of whatever abilities He has given us.
As the church was growing and maturing, there were several areas that needed corrected and this was one of them. All needs were met as everyone did what they could to provide for each other’s needs.
When someone could provide for themselves and for the needs of others, but chose not to, that was unrepentant sin that God’s provision didn’t cover.
Again, the word that is persistently used by God’s word is the word need. The Greek word is khri’-ah meaning what is absolutely necessary for life. Laziness and busybodinesss are not needs. They produce need, but they are not needs.
If someone is not living in this way, which is not at all by faith, then they need discipled and taught and encouraged to live according to God’s word. They need to learn how to be good stewards of the little that God has entrusted to them so that He can give them more.
Otherwise, their lives are like a bucket full of holes. It doesn’t matter how much provision you pour into their lives, there will just always be more need.
They need healing and restoration first. This is true not just of money or material things, it is true of all things that God provides. Healing is needed desperately including us who make up the church!
It is like Elisha in the city of Jericho. It was an incredible town, but it could not prosper because it had a bad water supply. Elisha threw a bowl of salt into a spring and released God’s healing into that water supply and it remains pure and prosperous to this very day. The provision was there, but it needed the Lord’s healing.
Now, to keep God’s character clear in light of all of this… God not only meets our needs, He often blesses our faith with our wants and desires and super-abundantly more than we can even think, ask for, or imagine. That’s the blessing of living by faith!
Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica:
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.
He also wrote to Timothy, a young leader in the church that Paul was discipling:
1 Timothy 5:7-8
7 Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
I mean this should make this issue as clear and final as any scripture possibly could! Anyone, including believers, who are able to and chooses not to provide for their own households has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Ouch! But in a good way, ouch!
This warning aside, God is our provider. He is faithful and good and generous! He does not treat us as our sins deserve! He has chosen to bring us together as a church family purposefully.
You have what I need and I have what you need. That’s why Jesus brought me here and that’s why Jesus brought you here. When we all come together in pursuit of God, all needs are met. All needs disappear so that there are no needs.
How awesome is that!
What abilities has God entrusted you with?
What do you possess that can be used to serve those around you?
So, why are there still needs in each of our lives?
Join us next week to find out!