SUPPLY

1. God can supply
all our needs:

A. He has promised
to supply our needs:

Phi.4:19  God shall supply all your need
according to His riches

Mat.6:33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God...& all
these things shall be added unto you

Psa.23:1  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want
(lack)

Psa.34:10                They
that seek Lord shall not (lack) any good thing

Psa.37:25                I
(have) not seen righteous forsaken...begging bread

Mat.7:7-11             Every
one that asketh receiveth...your Father (shall) give good things to them that
ask Him

Rom.8:32                He
that spared not His Own Son...shall He not also freely give us all things?

(See
also Deut.2:7; Psa.68:19; 81:10; Mal.3:10; Mat. 6:8,25-34.)

B. God is the source
of all supply:

Psa.145:15,16         Thou
openest Thine hand, & satisfiest the desire of every living thing

1Chr.29:14              All
things come of Thee, & of Thine Own have we given Thee

Psa.104:13-15        He
causeth...herb (to grow) for man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth

Jam.1:17 Every good gift...is from above, & cometh
from (God)

(See
also Psa.65:9-13; Gen.1:29; 9:3.)

C. He owns the
entire world:

Exo.19:5  All the earth is Mine

Psa.24:1  The earth is the Lord's, & the fulness
thereof

Psa.50:10,11           Every
beast is Mine...& the cattle upon a thousand hills

Psa.89:11                The
earth is Thine: the world & the fulness thereof

2. God can do miracles
to supply:

Num.11:21-23        [God
promised meat for a month, Moses doubted it, so] the Lord said, `Is the Lord's
hand waxed short?'

2Ki.4:1-6 [The prophet's widow borrowed vessels &
they miraculously filled with enough oil to pay her debts]

A. Food:

Exo.16:12-15          [God
miraculously supplied quail & manna in desert]

Num.11:18-20        [God
sent a month's supply of quail ] (See vs.31,32)

Psa.78:23-29          He
opened the doors of Heaven, & rained down manna ...corn of Heaven...angel's
food...meat to the full (See also Psa.105:40)

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

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

1Ki.17:16                The
barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail [during the 3-1/2
year famine]

1Ki.19:5-8               An
angel said unto (Elijah), "Arise & eat"...& behold, a cake
baken on the coals, & a cruse of water

2Ki.4:42,43             [Elisha
fed 100, multiplying 20 loaves & some corn]

Mk.6:34-44             [Jesus
fed 5,000, multiplying 5 loaves & 2 fishes. 5,000 men, besides
women & children--Mat.14:21]

Mk.8:1-9 [Jesus fed 4,000, multiplying 7 loaves]

Rev.12:6,14            [Church
"fed, nourished" 3-1/2 years in wilderness]

(See
also Psa.23:5; Lk.5:4-7; Jn.21:5,6,11.)

B. Water:

Gen.21:14-19          [Hagar
dying of thirst, God showed her a well]

Exo.17:1-6              [At
Horeb, the Lord brought water out of a rock]

Num.20:2,7-11       [At
Meribah, God again brought water from a rock]

Judg.15:15-19        [God
supplied water from a jawbone for Samson]

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

(See
also Psa.78:15,16; 105:41; Isa.41:17,18.)

C. God can even
purify impure food & water:

Exo.15:23-25          [Bitter
waters of Marah miraculously made sweet]

2Ki.2:19-22             [Undrinkable
waters of Jericho healed]

2Ki.4:38-41             [Poisonous
gourd in the pottage rendered harmless]

(See
also Mk.16:18a)

D. Clothing &
other necessities:

Deut.29:5               I
have led you 40 years...your clothes are not waxen old...thy shoe
is not waxen old upon thy foot

Mat.6:25,26,
30      If God
clothe the grass...shall He not...clothe you?

(See
also Gen.3:21)

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]