3. Supply during famine:
A. Sore famines predicted in the last days:
Mat.24:3,7 [In] the end of the world...there shall be famines...in diverse places
Mk.13:8b There shall be famines & troubles
B. The Lord promises to feed us during famines:
Job 5:19,20 In famine He (God) shall redeem thee from death
Psa.33:18,19 The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him...to keep them alive in famine
Psa.37:18,19 The Lord knoweth the days of the upright...in the days of famine they shall be satisfied
Pro.10:3 The Lord will not suffer (allow)...the righteous to famish
Ezk.36:29b,30 I will increase (the corn), & lay no famine upon you. I will multiply the fruit of the tree, &...of the field
C. He usually warns His people so they can make preparations:
Gen.41:25-36, 47-49 [God showed Joseph & Pharaoh that a famine was coming & they prepared for it by storing away food
Acts 11:27-30 [God warned that a dearth was coming, & believers sent relief money to their affected brethren]
(See also Amos 3:7 )

4. Conditions to God's supply:
A. We must please God & be obedient:
Mat.6:33 Seek first...& all things shall be added unto you
2Chr.1:7-12 [God gave King Solomon fabulous riches & wealth when he sought the good of the kingdom first]
Psa.34:9 There is no want (lack) to them that fear Him
Psa.34:10 They that seek Lord shall not (lack) any good thing
Psa.37:3 Do good...& verily thou shalt be fed
Psa.37:18,19 The Lord knoweth...the upright...in the days of famine they shall be satisfied
Psa.37:25 I have been young, & now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken...begging bread
Psa.84:11 No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly
Pro.13:25 Righteous eateth to satisfying... wicked shall (lack)
Isa.1:19 If ye be willing & obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land
1Jn.3:22 Whatsoever we ask, we receive...because we keep His commandments, & do...things...pleasing in His sight
(See also Deut.11:10-15 ; 29:9 ; Psa.111:5 .)
B. Examples of obeying & doing our part first:
1Ki.17:2-5 Get thee hence...& hide by the brook Cherith...ravens feed thee there. So he went
1Ki.17:9,10 Arise, get thee to Zarephath. So he arose & went
2Ki.4:1-6 Go borrow...of all thy neighbours empty vessels, borrow not a few. So she went & (did)
Mat.17:27 Go cast an hook, & take up the fish...thou shalt find a piece of money (in his mouth)
Lk.5:4-6 Launch out into the deep, & let down your nets
Jn.2:1-10 Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them
Jn.11:39 Take (roll) ye away the stone
Jn.21:5,6 Cast the net on right side of the ship...They cast
C. Pray, believe God's Word & depend on Him to supply:
Mat.7:7 Ask, & it shall be given; knock, & it shall be opened
Mat.21:22 All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
Heb.11:6 He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him
(See also 2Chr.26:5 ; Isa.45:11 ; Mat.9:29 .)
D. Remember to thank Him for supplying:
Psa.68:19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loadeth us with benefits
Psa.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 or disobedience:
Jer.5:25 Your sins have withholden good things from you
(See also Psa.81:15,16 ; Jam.4:3 .)
B. Lack of faith or failure to ask the Lord:
Jam.4:2 Ye have not, because ye ask not
Jam.1:6,7 [Wavering & not asking in faith]
C. Laziness:
2Thes.3:10 If any would not work, neither should he eat
Pro.13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, & hath nothing
Pro.20:4 Sluggard will not plow...therefore shall have nothing
Pro.21:25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour (See also Pro.23:21 )
D. To keep us dependent upon God & His supply:
Deut.31:20 When they...have eaten & filled themselves, & waxen fat; then will they turn to other gods
Pro.30:8,9 Give me (not) riches...lest I be full & deny Thee
(See also 1Tim.6:10,17 ; Rev.3:17-19 .)
E. To show us that it's time to move:
1Ki.17:7-9 [When the brook dried, it was time for Elijah to move]
(See also Gen.26:1-3 ; 45:6-11 ; Ruth 1:1-6,16-18 ; 2Ki.8:1,2 .)

6. God loves you & wants to supply:
A. He knows what you need & is looking after you:
Mat.6:8 Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him
Mat.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 unbelieving World...
(See Mat.5:45 ; Acts 14:15b-17 .)
C. If He even provides the needs of animals...
(See Gen.1:30 ; 6:14-22 ; Psa.104:21,26-28 ; 147:8,9 .)
D. ...Won't He much more care for you?
(See Mat.6:26,30 ; Psa.34:10 ; 145:15,16 ; 2Cor.9:8 .)

7. Doing what we can do to supply:
A. Our responsibility to provide:
1Tim.5:8 If any provide not for...those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, & is worse than an infidel
B. Working for our needs:
Acts 20:35 How that labouring ye ought to support the weak
Eph.4:28 Let him labour, working w/ his hands thing which is good
1Thes.4:11,12 Work with your own hands...that ye may lack nothing
2Thes.3:10-12 Some work not at all...If any would not work, neither should he eat
Tit.3:14 Let ours learn to maintain good works (profess honest trades) for necessary uses
(See also Gen.41:39-44 ; Dan.2:48,49 ; 6:1-3 ; 8:27 .)
C. Missionaries occasionally take on secular jobs:
Acts 18:1-3 [Paul temporarily made tents to support himself] (See also Acts 20:34 ; 1Cor.4:12 .)
D. God blesses diligent, hard work:
Gen.31:38-40 [Jacob's sample of diligent shepherding]
Gen.39:1-6 [God blessed Joseph's hard work] (See also vs.20-23 )
Pro.10:4 The hand of the diligent maketh rich (See also Pro.13:4 ; 22:29 ; 21:25 ; Eccl.5:18 .)
Pro.28:19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he that followeth vain persons...poverty
Mat.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:
Gen.47:1-6 [Pharaoh gave the best land in Egypt, Goshen, to Joseph's father & brothers]
1Ki.18:3,13 [Governor Obadiah risked his life to save & feed 100 of the Lord's prophets]
2Ki.4:8-11 [Rich woman of Shunem supplied food & lodging for Elisha & his servant]
Neh.2:7,8 [King Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah permission to take as much timber as he needed from the king's forest]
Jer.37:15-21 [King Zedekiah defied Jeremiah's enemies & commanded Jeremiah be given bread continually]
Dan.2:48,49 [King Nebuchadnezzar gives Daniel power & "many great gifts", & gave his friends high positions]
Lk.8:1-3 [Joanna & other wealthy women helped support Jesus]
(See also Rom.16:23 ; Phlm.1,2,7,22 .)
B. Don't abuse others' generosity:
1Cor.7:31 They that use this world, as not abusing it
C. God's workers to be supported by those to whom they minister:
Mat.10:9,10 Provide neither gold, nor silver in your purses...for the workman is worthy of his meat
1Cor.9:7-14 The Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel
2Ki.4:42 A man...brought (Elisha) bread of the firstfruits, 20 loaves & corn [to feed his 100 disciples]
Lk.22:35 When I sent you without purse...lacked ye any thing? And they said, "Nothing."
1Tim.5:18 Shalt not muzzle ox that treadeth the corn. The labourer is worthy of his hire (See Deut.25:4 ; Lk.10:7 .)
(See also Acts 28:7-10 )
D. Staying as a guest at someone's house:
Mat.10:11 In whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who is worthy; & there abide
Lk.10:7,8 In the same house remain, eating (what) they give
(See also 1Ki.17:8-16,24 ; Acts 10:5,6 ; 16:14,15 ; 17:5,7 ; 18:2,3,7 ; Rom.16:23a ; Phlm.22 .)
E. But don't overstay your welcome:
Pro.25:17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee; & so hate thee
F. Accepting invitations to a meal:
Mat.9:9,10 [Jesus & disciples ate with Matthew] (See also Lk.5:29 )
Lk.7:36 One of the Pharisees desired that He would eat with him
Lk.19:1-6 [Jesus invited Himself to eat at Zacchaeus' house]
1Cor.10:27 If any (unbelievers) bid you to a feast, & ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat
G. Refusing invitations to a meal:
1Ki.13:7-9,15-17 [Young prophet ordered by God to refuse invitations] (See also vs.18-24 )
Pro.15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than (steak) & hatred therewith (See also Dan.1:5,8,12-16 )
Pro.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 4:34,35 Distribution was made unto every man...as he had need
Acts 11:29 Every man according to his ability...(sent) relief
2Cor.8:12-14 That...your abundance may be a supply for their want (lack)...that there may be equality
2Cor.8:15 He that gathered much had nothing over; & he that gathered little had no lack (See Exo.16:18 )

9. Giving to God's work:
A. God can even use unbelievers to give to His people:
Job 27:16,17 Though he heap up silver...innocent shall divide (it) ...prepare raiment...but the just shall put it on
Psa.2:8 Ask...I shall give the heathen for thine inheritance
Pro.21:1 King's heart is in hand of the Lord...He turneth it
Psa.105:44 (He) gave them lands of the heathen: & they inherited the labour of the people (heathen)
Pro.13:22 The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just
Eccl.2:26 To the sinner He giveth travail, to gather & to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God
Isa.23:18 Her merchandise shall be...for [servants of] the Lord, to eat sufficiently, & for durable clothing
B. Examples of the need to ask:
1Sam.25:2-8 [David sent men to ask Nabal, a great & rich--but wicked--man, to donate food to him & his men]
1Sam.25:7,8 [David explained the good work his men have done]
1Sam.27:5-7 [David asked for place to stay for 16 months]
Mk.11:1-7 [Jesus' disciples requested a donkey for Him to ride]
Mk.14:12-16 [Jesus' disciples asked for the use of an upper room, already furnished & prepared]
Lk.5:1-3 [Jesus asked for the use of a boat to preach from]
Jn.4:6,7 [Jesus asked for a drink of water]

10. God promises to prosper our work & businesses:
A. Financially:
Deut.28:1-13 [Mighty promises of prosperity to the faithful]
Psa.112:1,3 Blessed is the man...that delighteth greatly in His commandments...wealth shall be in his house
Pro.10:22 Blessing of the Lord maketh rich, He addeth no sorrow
B. Other ways God prospers His people:
(See Gen.39:2 ; Lev.26:3-13 ; Deut.29:9 ; 30:9 ; 2Chr.26:5 ; Psa.107:35-38 ; 127:3-5 ; Isa.3:10 ; Ezk.34:26 ; Acts 14:17 .)

11. God supplies our needs, not always our wants:
A. Be content & do not desire more than you need:
Lk.12:15 Beware of covetousness, for a man's life consisteth not in abundance of things which he possesseth
1Tim.6:6-8 Godliness with contentment is great gain...having food & raiment let us be therewith content
Phi.4:11 I have learned, in whatever state I am...to be content
Heb.13:5 Let your (life) be without covetousness; & be content with such things as ye have
Psa.37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked
Pro.15:16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure & trouble therewith
Pro.30:8 Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me
2Cor.6:10 As poor...having nothing, & yet possessing all things
(See also Psa.62:10b ; Psa.119:36 ; Pro.17:1 ; 23:5 .)
B. Dangers of discontent & murmuring:
Exo.16:3 [Longing for fleshpots of Egypt, & complaining that God will let them die of hunger]
Num.21:5,6 [The people complained against & loathe the manna & were attacked by fiery serpents]
1Sam.15:3,9 , [Saul disobeyed God's orders to utterly destroy, saving the best of the goods. God rejected Saul as king]
22,23
Psa.73:3-20 [Warning not to envy the prosperity of worldly wicked]
Psa.78:15-21 [Israelites miraculously received water, then doubtingly murmured for meat. God angrily judged them]


Copyright (c) 1997 by The Family

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