God, Part 2 | Wk 6: “A New Provision”
Pastor Mike Overstreet | 03.08.2020
Message recordings available at: https://vimeo.com/element3
1:
2:
Matthew 14:1-21 (NIV):
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
3:
EXODUS PROVISION:
Need arises (hunger) → God sees their need → God provides directly (Manna & Quail)
NEX EXODUS PROVISION:
Need arises (hunger) → Disciples see the need, but Jesus tells them to meet it → Jesus takes, breaks, blesses, & returns what they already have → Disciples, through Jesus, provide
4:
The Struggle Of Self-Centeredness vs. Being Kingdom Provision
- Willful ignorance of the needs of others vs. Willingness to see the needs of others as Jesus does
- Simply identifying & pointing out the needs of others vs. Meeting & providing for the needs of others
- Attacking perceived problems vs. Meeting needs with compassion
- Counting & holding onto what we have out of scarcity vs. Laying down our time, talents, & treasures to let it become Kingdom provision for others
Where do you need to hear & become this New Exodus provision story?