God As Provider | Tyrone P Jones | ThanksGiving | Full Service

♪ ♪ Good morning, church. Good morning to the online campus and the prison campus. My name is Nya, and I'm so happy that you're here with us this morning. If you guys already are in your seats, I just want to ask if we can move to the middle so that we can make room for people coming in to fill out the chairs on the end. And if you're not already standing, would you just stand with me as I read this scripture? I'm going to be reading from Isaiah, chapter 52, verse 7. It says, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who bring good news, who publishes peace, who bring good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns. The ultimate good news is that Jesus Christ came to earth and he died on the cross for our sins and he rose again so that we could have eternity with him in heaven. And I want to let you know that this good news, it's for every single person. It's not just for some. This salvation, it's for all of us. And so if you already have salvation in Christ, I hope that this scripture encourages you to go out and to share the good news. If you guys would just bow your heads with me and pray. Thank you, Jesus, so much for this morning, Lord. Thank you for this community that you've given us, God. I just thank you for the worship that's about to happen and for the message that's about to be preached, God. I thank you that we get to learn about your truth, Jesus. I pray that it just pierces the hearts of the people in this room. And in your name we pray, amen.

Just stay standing as we worship together. That can silence roaring waves, I know a name That can empty out a grave, I know a name It's the only name that saves And it's worthy of our praise I call you Jesus I call you, I call you hero Risen and reigning, you power Something comes out of the grave And every time I call you Jesus I call you, I call you savior Worthy of glory forever Something comes out of the grave And every time I call your name And I have a king Who wins a million over death He holds the keys And in his holiness scarred hands He is the healer That has crushed the serpent's head Our resurrected great I am I call you Jesus I call you, I call you hero Risen and reigning, you power Something comes out of the grave Every time I call you Jesus I call you, I call you savior Worthy of glory forever Something comes out of the grave Every time I call your name

Chains break, dry bones wake Every time I call your name The gates of hell shake Every time I call your name Chains break, dry bones wake Every time I call your name The gates of hell shake Come on, just lift up the name of Jesus in the house today, worthy of our prayers. Oh, there's just something about the name. Oh, there's just something about the name. Oh, there's just something about the name. Ten things come alive in the name of Jesus. I call you Jesus. I call you. I call you. Healers. Peaches are bleeding in power. Something comes out of the grave. Every time I call you Jesus. I call you. I call you savior. Worthy and glory forever. Something comes out of the grave. Every time I call your name. Chains to break. Tribals awake. Every time I call your name. Hell gates. Hell. Every time I call your name.

Dead things come alive. Dead things come alive. Dead things come alive in the name of Jesus. Dead things come alive. Dead things come alive. Dead things come alive in the name of Jesus. Come on, let's do the name of Jesus today. Come on, church. Let's continue to celebrate as we watch someone go public with their faith this morning. My name is Rowan. Before I had a personal relationship with God, my life felt like I had one foot in and one out. I knew deep down that I wanted that relationship and I had grown up knowing scripture and going to church, but I still felt stuck in a lukewarm place. I have believed in Christ as our savior since a young age, but I have fully surrendered to Jesus when I became an adult. The reality of God became clear to me as I went through some really tough situations. I realized that focusing on all things I couldn't control was only causing me more pain. And at one point I felt like God was allowing me to be alone so I could hear him more clearly. Since truly following Jesus, I have hope because I am able to look back and see that even after walking through really hard and painful situations, I'm still here. I've made it through and I still have the strength to face each day. I know that strength doesn't come from me but from God and that he has carried me through it. Now when it feels like things are being stripped away and leaving me feeling alone, I lean into prayer and ask God to help me see what he's trying to show me. I'm thankful to say that I'm surrounded by wonderful people. I've met at CTC who care for me and support me in my faith and I'm ready to pursue Jesus with all I have. Today I'm going public with my faith. Rowan, Jesus said every disciple should be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And because of your confession of faith, today I baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins. And according to scripture, you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Come on, isn't he worthy? ♪ So I could live in the freedom you died for ♪ ♪ And now my life is yours and I will sing of your goodness forevermore ♪ Come on, sing how worthy He is.

♪ Oh, worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ ♪ You deserve the praise, worthy is your name, worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ ♪ You deserve the praise, worthy is your name, He is worthy, He is worthy ♪ ♪ Oh, worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ ♪ And now my shame is gone, I stand amazed of your love undeniable ♪ ♪ And your grace goes on and on, and I will sing of your goodness forevermore ♪ ♪ And for evermore worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ ♪ You deserve the praise, worthy is your name, worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ ♪ You deserve the praise, worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ ♪ You deserve the praise, worthy is your name, worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ ♪ You deserve the praise, worthy is your name, worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ ♪ You're worthy, you're worthy to be exalted high, exalted high ♪ ♪ Be exalted now in the heavens, as your glory fills this place ♪ ♪ You alone deserve our praise, you're the name of heaven and earth ♪ ♪ You're the name above all names, be exalted now in the heavens ♪ ♪ As your glory fills this place, you alone deserve our praise ♪ Come on, exalted. ♪ You're the name above all names, be exalted now in the heavens ♪ ♪ As your glory fills this place, you alone deserve our praise ♪ ♪ You're the name above all names, be exalted now in the heavens ♪ ♪ As your glory fills this place, you alone deserve our praise ♪ ♪ You're the name above all names ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ ♪ You deserve the praise, worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ ♪ You deserve the praise, worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ ♪ You deserve the praise, worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name, Jesus ♪

♪ You deserve the praise, worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Won't we give you the glory and honor? ♪ ♪ It's your worth, yeah ♪ You are worthy of it all You are worthy of it all For from You are all things To You are all things You deserve the glory You are worthy of it all You are worthy of it all You are worthy of it all For from You are all things To You are all things You deserve the glory You deserve all the glory We rest in Your praises We rest in Your promises Jesus We sing day and night Let our praise arise Day and night, night and day Let incense arise Day and night, night and day Let incense arise Day and night, night and day Let incense arise Day and night, night and day Day and night, night and day Let incense arise Day and night, night and day Let people sing day and night

Day and night, night and day Let incense arise Day and night, night and day You are worthy of it all You are worthy of it all For from you are all things And to you are all things You deserve it all You are worthy of it all You are worthy of it all You are worthy of it all For from you are all things And to you are all things You deserve it all You are worthy of it all I'm going to believe you may be around someone you have not met. If you don't mind introducing yourself, and we'll get ready for the Word of the Lord. Well, I'm going to, I'm actually going to dive right into the message quite early. I'm going to just, a thank you though for for your generosity and your giving that just helps us to help people in our own community. We help other local churches here when there's needs around the state. We have several churches that we oversee and support and train and help, and they're actually kind of spread across the nation. And of course, the church plants and the mission work that we do around the world, all that is because of your giving. So I do want to thank you. We never take for granted that you give out of obedience, you give out of the word of the Lord. Many of you have began to give for the first time, and we want to thank you for that. Many of you have committed to tithing, and we certainly do know that God will honor that and bless that.

So I want to thank you for your generosity, for helping expand the kingdom of God. It's not our desire to build our own kingdom, but to do the work that God has called us to do while the time that we are here. All right. I just think now, I just want you to go ahead and stand, take your Bible with you, up with you. If you don't mind removing your caps, do so. We're going to read out of Philippians Chapter 4, and going to read verses 10 through 19. Verse 20 just kind of actually ended on the poll stop. But Philippians Chapter 4, we're going to read verses 10 through 20, and then I'll pray. We're certainly thankful that the shutdown is over, and all of you that were affected by that, I pray that everything gets back in order for you as quickly as possible. And obviously, we'll pray for the government, nation, etc. Philippians Chapter 4, beginning in verse 10, I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I'm speaking of being in need, for I've learned in whatever situation, I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. And in every circumstance, I've learned the secret of facing plenty in hunger, abundance, and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only. Even in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. For I've received full payment, and more I'm well supplied, having received from Aprophoditus the gift you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father, may glory forever. Amen. So, Father, reading of the word, let's pray. Father, it's good to be in your house. It's good to be in a community of people who cry out to you, who lift up their hands, who lift up their voice, who call out your name. Lord, we do it in freedom. We also do it in peace, knowing that we have brothers and

sisters around the world who don't have the same privilege that we have, whether it be those in India, whether it be those in Nigeria. In various places, Lord, we know that even now, as we stand here together in peace and in harmony and community, we have brothers and sisters in fear, being scattered, tortured, and killed. And so, Lord, we say thank you. We pray for them, that you would be a God of protection for them and help these dear ones. There's pastors and leaders, Lord, who are doing everything they can to continue to bring glory to you in the midst of overwhelming trouble. So, Lord, our prayers is for them. And Lord, we also thank you for what you're allowing for us. And may, Lord, we never take this for granted. May we never take this for granted. Father, our prayer also, Lord, is for our government. We're thankful that the shutdown is over. There's going to be some things that's going to take some time to get in place, but for those who are receiving some of their pay, we're so thankful for that. Thank you for them enduring. And, Lord... Again, you've proven yourself faithful. We do lift up our government, Lord, and the decisions that they make, the actions that they take, Lord, that they would keep what's best for the American people in mind. And Lord, we'll make decisions that are moral, that are biblical, that are right. Lord, we just pray for unity in those places of division. And certainly, Lord God, just the reduction of the hostility and the violence and just the evil that seems to go back and forth. Father, I want to thank you for the men and women that serve our country and serve our land and some in armed forces, some as first responders. Lord, I pray for those now that are on land and those that are on the sea, those that are in harm's way, and Lord, those that are preparing, those that are on front lines, and those that are support. I pray your hand upon them, your grace, your strength. And Father, for first responders, for everyone that's running into a house to save a family from a fire, everyone who's showing up at a domestic

violence to save a family from themselves, that each of those dear folks, Lord God, will be able to return back to the home that they left before they started their shift. And Lord, I pray that you would protect them as they do their best to protect us. Father, we pray for every church in our county. We want every church to grow. We want every pastor to preach the gospel, to preach the word. We want more and more people in Yuma County to declare that Jesus Christ indeed is Lord. And so, Lord, we pray that we as churches and church leaders and children of God would have such a good infection in Yuma County that is undeniable that Christ is working in us and through us to be change agents, to make a difference. And Lord, we pray that when this message is delivered this morning, that Lord, each of us will be able to gain a morsel of truth that we can apply to our life, that we may be more and more conformed to the image of Christ, become more and more like you. You're a great God. You're an awesome God. And Father, we love you. It's in Christ's name we pray. May the people of God say amen. Men, you may be seated. For the next four weeks, we're going to be speaking from a series title just called Thanksgiving. And this particular message is going to teach about God being a provider, trusting God for all of our needs. And I think, obviously, through the various things that we experience in life day to day, you are finding that when things do, when you make it through life, I think the more you grow, the more you know. The more you know about God, the more that he does for you, you realize that it's him that we ultimately do trust in and should trust in. And he just proves himself over and over again. And so, in this series, we're going to talk about provision. We're going to talk about gratitude. We'll talk about tithing. We'll talk about generosity. We'll talk about what it means to really, really look to God as our true provider. There's a few thesis statements that's going to be on the screen that I just want you to consider. None of these things come from inexperience on my part.

Everything that's been crafted here is because I know what it means to absolutely trust God in every season, every aspect of life, and have seen God being faithful. In all my 62 years, God has been so faithful. These are the things that I know. When God's people practice continual gratitude and joyful generosity, they live in the flow of his promise provision. I know that for a fact, that when you practice gratitude, when you have a heart where you're thankful and grateful for what God has done for you, and don't allow yourself to be restricted from doing good unto others, joyfully being generous, I'm telling you, it's a fact. You will experience the flow of God's promise provision in your life. Here's another statement I want you to consider. When you cultivate a thankful, grateful, and generous heart... You position yourself to experience God's faithful provision in every area of your life. In every area of your life, when you cultivate thankfulness in your heart, gratefulness, generosity, you put yourself in the right place. Those are the seeds in the good soil. This last statement I want you to consider, as you live with hearts full of gratitude and hands open in generosity, you'll see that the Lord supplies all you need. Again, hearts full of gratitude and hands open in generosity. You know, we live in an age where people are very anxious, a lot of anxiety. People worry about finances. They worry about their future. They worry about careers. They worry about stability. Depends on what aspect of life you're in. Some worry about retirement and what's going to happen in the economy and children and health and relationships. When we live in a world of uncertainty, and I'm telling you, it is a world of uncertainty. There is not one thing that I just went through or one thing you can list in your life and you can be sure this is going to happen because we live in a world of uncertainty. I think you all know control is just an illusion because you never know what's going to happen next. Ask the families who had workers living in the Twin Towers. Nobody knows what's going to happen next.

Ask the family whose father kissed them when they left and never got out of the house fire. None of us know what is going to happen next. And I think we've learned if you think you can live this life counting on the U.S. government to take care of you. I mean, I do believe Ronald Reagan was right when you hear the knock on the door and you answer it, and how can I help you? Well, I'm from the government. I'm here to help you. Those are the worst words you can hear. You can't count on them. And so, we live in a world of uncertainty. And because of that, there is a truth that you want to embrace and you need to embrace, and that's this one, that has never failed. My God will supply all of your needs. My God, He'll do it. And what Paul teaches us in this text actually is even a deeper truth, that provision that we know comes from the Lord. It flows from contentment, from gratitude, and from trust in Him. Now, we ended last week with Galatians 5.15. We'll pick up with Galatians 5 at the first part of the year. But you may recall that the title of that sermon series was, Noah the Gospel. And the idea, of course, that Paul was teaching in all through Galatians is that the gospel is the essence, of course, of what we preach and should be preached. And it's the gospel message which is the good news of Jesus Christ, His work, His finished work, the salvation that He's accomplished. That's the gospel. And that there's no other substitute for that. There's nothing else that can replace what Christ has done on the cross. And so, understanding that we need the gospel for salvation, I think that's pretty much a given for everybody that's in here. But I also want you to consider this, that the gospel shapes our whole life. It's not just the message of salvation, but the gospel should change the way you view everything in life. Everything from whether it be money, possessions, needs, everything in life should change. The gospel is not just a message of salvation, but it changes our worldview. It changes our worldview. Before you gave your life to Christ till after you gave your life to Christ,

how you saw things before and how you see things now because you have a relationship with Jesus should be different. You don't see things the same way because you're coming from a different premise. You're coming from a new nature, not from the old nature. You're coming from a new nature. You're coming from a Christ nature. You're not coming from fighting for self-esteem. Now, you come from Christ-esteem. So you see everything different. That's called biblical worldview. How you see things now should absolutely change because of the gospel, how you see your identity. You now see yourself as a child of God. So you're not defined by what you own, what your true treasure is. Before, your treasure was everything you can lay your hands on. Now you realize your treasure is Christ, that Christ is the true treasure, that he's the true reward. How you see generosity, because the grace of God makes us open-handed because we realize that Christ has been open-handed with us. Our security, before we might have trusted in our own substance, in our own provision, but now we know that we can trust in God's provision. So we're freed from anxiety and we're freed from greed because we're secure. Even our mission, we realize that everything we do in life, everything that we've been given, is to serve the eternal purposes of God because we're now part of God's kingdom. And so here's the fact, when the gospel take root, it touches every part of our life, the way we handle things, the way we look at things, the way we relate to things, the way we respond to others. We've been shaped now, have a biblical worldview because of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. So before I dive into what Paul was teaching from this, I want you to know verse number 10 again, it'll be on the screen in a different version, because Paul really, he says something about having gratitude when people do things for you. He says, I could hardly contain my joy in the Lord when I realized you have started to show your care for me once and again. Since you have not had the opportunity to show how much you cared until now, I want you to know how

it touched me. Hear what Paul is saying. Paul, before he talks about what it means to trust God, he wants us to know, at least he's personally expressing, how much it means to have a grateful heart when people do things for you, to have gratitude. Now, I do believe that...I believe that all of us, when we give gifts, we know that love takes a risk because you don't know how people are going to receive love on the other side, right? And we try not to get attached to the outcome, that if you show love to someone and they don't show love back, that you don't get attached to that outcome and cause yourself not to show love again because that didn't go so well. I hope I'm talking to the right church. Some of you are afraid to get married again just because of that very reason. So, love takes a risk. When you give a gift to someone, you don't always know how they're going to respond. You can't get attached. If you give a gift to them, you don't know whether they're going to like it or not. You don't know if they want it. You don't know if they need it. You don't even know whether they already have it. You don't know. Which, while I'm on this subject, I'm so grateful for all the gifts people give me, I need nothing else with Raiders on it. I got every cap, every shirt, every sweatshirt, every jacket, every hoodie, every golf ball, every towel. I got it all. So, thank you. But, yeah, you don't know when you give somebody a gift if they already have it. And so, again, you try... And so, you don't know what the response is going to be. But I will say this, whenever we give something to somebody, even if we don't know what that gift means to them at the moment, I think we all like to hear, thank you. Is that all right to say? I think we all like to hear, thank you. Paul is showing us that we should always have a sense of gratitude. to no matter what people do for us. You don't know what they went through to do that. You don't know what they sacrificed. You don't know the challenge that they had, the faith that they had to even be able to do it for you,

the obedience that they went through. You don't know. So Paul is saying, listen, the beginning of all of this, of knowing how good God is, is having a heart of gratitude no matter who does anything for you. Am I talking to the right church? First service done, fine with this. So here is some things, though, that I think comes out of this passage that we wanna embrace, and that's this, that contentment is learned, contentment. Listen to what he says in verse 11 and 13. Not that I was ever in need, for I've learned how to be content with whatever I have. Hear what Paul is saying. I've learned how to live on nothing or everything. I've learned the living of secret in every situation. There's times when I didn't have a full stomach. There's times when I had plenty. There's times when I had little. And then here's that verse that is so misunderstood that I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. As if that verse has to do with you walking into a boxing ring beating up somebody, or running through the defensive line with a football in your hand. This verse ain't got nothing to do with athletic pro-wrests at all. Not one bit.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me. That ain't what it's about. Paul is telling us because of the strength of God, we can live in a place of contentment no matter what occurs in our life. By the strength of God. By the strength of God, I can live through days where I got nothing to put in my stomach. And not complain. And not be bitter. And not feel like a victim. And not feel like my life is a wreck. By the strength of God, you know what it's like to live with contentment. With whatever God has provided, I got the strength to live through this. And at the same time, got the strength when God overwhelms you with more than what you need and you don't allow that to continue to build a greedy, avarice heart within you. That you learn, even with abundance, it's not the abundance that I'm gravitating to. It's not the abundance that I expect. It's not the abundance that I think is what my life should always be about. It's about contentment. That with whatever God has provided, I'm going to be content. All of the good of God, all of his goodness, all of the confidence that we have in his provision,

the seed that has to go into the soil is contentment. Paul says, I've learned that. It's not natural. It's not natural for us to be content. We come out of the womb never being satisfied. Just try, I've been through it with five kids, try breastfeeding. You can feed that baby, feed that baby, feed that baby, feed that baby, crying, crying, crying and still looking for it. Too much information, but you get the point. A little too much. That's our life. We can never get enough. We can never come to the place to say, satisfied. It's not natural. It's part of spiritual maturity. When you can see what God has done for you and say, thank God, I'm good. Whatever you're doing at the time. Now, unfortunately, just so you know this, contentment doesn't mean complacency. Contentment doesn't mean lack of ambition. Contentment doesn't mean giving up on improvement. But what it does mean with whatever step of life that God takes you through, I'm good. God continues to bless you, I'm good. You never develop a mind, thank God for that, but I need another raise, or I need another bonus, or the house is fine, but I need, I want more.

No, no, you are content with what God has done for you. what God is doing. This is a hard word, but contentment ain't a four-letter word. It's a biblical word. Paul says the reason that you can receive God's provision and count on it is because you know whatever God has done for you, you can say, thank God, thank God. Y'all doing all right? And you learn to rest in Christ regardless of circumstances, regardless of it. You learn to rest in Christ. First Timothy 6, 6 says, but godliness with contentment is great gain. And then, of course, he addresses that verse there about I can do all things in every situation. I think, honestly, the issue for many of us is defining the difference between wanting God's provision and wants and needs. That's where the struggle comes, defining the difference. You need a car. You want a Range Rover. And you can believe that salesman is gonna convince you you can afford that Range Rover. That's his job. He's gonna convince you. And so then you buy the Range Rover when all you needed was a car,

and then when you can't keep up with the payments of the Range Rover and everything else in life, God, you're not providing for me. Oh, yes, he did. Oh, yes, he did. You just couldn't define difference between need and want. Y'all want me to get more personal? Y'all ain't getting this. I can tell you ain't getting it. So I need to just go a little bit deeper with this. The 1,700-square-foot home with three bedrooms and two baths was fine, but it was a new neighborhood. It was a new house. And after all, the payment was only gonna be 500, 600, $700 more, so you desire that one. But God had already provided you with the one that you could have been content in. You could have. But then when you gotta meet everything that's on your plate and you've stretched into desires away from needs, then all of a sudden now, God is the one suspect of not providing for you. When it wasn't God's fault at all. Because God did promise, and he keeps his word, he will always give you what you need. He will always give you what you need. Now, God does provide in so many manners. Just to fulfill his word, you probably know the meaning of the word sovereignty,

or the sovereign, yeah, sovereign God, sovereignty of God. Sovereignty means God is the one that oversees all things, all circumstances involved in all things in our life. Providence, just a little bit different meaning. It's a doctrine that basically says that it's God, God's providence that keeps us existing and maintaining. And the providence of God is what directs the steps in our life so that we fulfill his purposes. So the movement of our life is by the providence of God so that we fulfill his purposes. Now, I say that to say oftentimes that sometimes we miss how God does what he does through providence. But I want you to notice something, and this will be on the screen, Genesis 47, 27. And this verse says, thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen, and they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. That's kind of the end of a story that had started 21 years prior to that. 21 years prior to that, there was a man by the name of Jacob who had 12 sons who are the sons of Israel, the children of Israel. It's out of that camp that we know about the Jews and define the children of Israel, from Jacob and all of his children. One of his sons was named Joseph. Joseph was not liked by the other brothers

for various reasons, won't have time to go into. 21 years before this, they sold Joseph into slavery. They don't know what happened to Joseph. The father believed that Joseph was dead because they liked him. lie and said that Joseph had gotten killed. Somewhere through that process, there was a big famine that took place in the land. However, seven years before this event, maybe a little longer, Joseph, while he was in Egypt, received a message from God that there's going to be seven good years in Egypt, and then there's going to be seven lean years. And during those seven years, you orchestrate so that everything that comes out of the field, every crop, every excess livestock, you put all that aside because you'll need to live off that for the seven years after that. The Lord told him it's not just for the land of Egypt, but it's for the whole known world at that time, the land that they knew. Well, you find Joseph here in Egypt, you find the children of Israel though, they're in the land of Judah. Sure enough, when the famine comes, they're affected by it also. They find out that there are supplies in Egypt. And so, Jacob sends his boys to go to Egypt and trade for the supplies. They do that for a couple of times, of course. And then eventually, Joseph reveals to them that he is their brother. And so, the word is from Pharaoh, go ahead and bring your family here to live here. And sure enough, 21 years later, the family goes, they live in Egypt. And in verse number 27, as we read, they're not put in the place where all the other Egyptians are starving and going into debt to live. Pharaoh says, put them in the land of Goshen, which is the most best land that we have all here in Egypt. Now, for 21 years, Joseph could have been whining and complaining of being away from his family, and being a victim, and being mistreated. But he realizes because of the providence of God, he ends up in Egypt exactly at the time when God was going to prepare Egypt

to feed the world. If God had not done his providence to get Joseph in Egypt, the whole nation of Israel would have died, and we would have never seen a Messiah. But because of God's providence, not only were they fed, not only were they put in a place of comfort, but they were put in a place that was the most fruitful for all the land, and thus, from there, we now have the children of Israel. God orchestrates things in life. And sometimes, along the journey, we're complaining, we're whining, we're bitter, we're resentful, we're upset, instead of being content, and watch the providence of God put you right in the place where he wants you to be for his purposes and for his glory. God does this out of providence, not just providence, but God also provides in some unorthodox ways. I'm going to read you two narratives out of 1 Kings 17, verses 1 through 6. This is the prophet Elijah. It says, now, Elijah, who was from Tishbe and Gilead, told King Ahab, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, the God I serve, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word. Then the Lord said to Elijah, go to the east and hide by Kirith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I've commanded them to bring you food. So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kirith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him food and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. This is an unorthodox way for God to provide. Here is Elijah who's told the king, because of the evil, actually, he says, there's going to be no rain for three years. There's going to be a drought, it's going to be a famine, nothing for three years, which also affected him. But the Lord says to him, now, listen, this is going to happen for three years, but I want you to go to the brook, this Brook Kirith. I'm sending you there. When nobody else is getting water, I'm going to keep sending water out of there for you to drink. But then he tells them this, there's no crops, there's no produce,

there's no livestock that's surviving. But he tells them this, I'm going to have ravens come and feed you. Now, that's a bit unorthodox. I've seen a lot of ravens. I've never had a raven come to me and say, God told me to feed you. It's unorthodox. But God says in his providence, I'm going to take care of you. He commanded the ravens to feed him. There's things that people do for you that God commanded them to do. They don't know why they did it, they don't know why they thought about you, but God commanded them, you go do this. Because that's how God works in Providence. Sometimes it's absolutely unorthodox. Now, also God provides in our obedience. Carry on this story. Now we're in verse number 7. But after a while, the brook dried up for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land. So verse number 8, and the Lord said to Elisha, go and live in the village of Zarephath near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you. And so he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gate to the village, he saw a woman gathering sticks and asked her, would you please bring me a little water and a cup? As she was going to eat it, he called to her, bring me a bite of bread also. But she said, I swore...now, don't forget, the Lord commanded the raven, we just read where the Lord told Elisha, I instructed the lady to feed you. Verse 12, but she said, I swear by the Lord your God that I don't have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die. So she said, I got just enough to make just a little cake here, a little biscuit, and got a little bit, and we're going to eat that and we die because there ain't nothing happening. Look at verse number 13. Elisha said, but Elisha said to her, don't be afraid, go ahead and do just what you said, but make the little bread and give it to me first. The audacity of the guy. The woman has just admitted, bro, I ain't even got enough to feed us both, but I'm going to do a little bit, me and my son going to eat,

and then we're going to die. He said, well, give it to me first. Then use what's left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. See, he already knew what God was going to do. For this is what the Lord your God, Israel, says, there will always be flour and oil, olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and crops grow again. So she did, as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised to Elijah. God is a God that will provide for you. He'll do it by providence, God will do it unorthodox, and God will do it in our obedience. Just obeying the will of God, we can trust him to keep his word. Can you say amen? And then God will also provide by miracles. This was Elijah that we were speaking about. Now in 2 Kings, we're going to tell you about Elisha, 2 Kings 4, 1 through 7. One day, the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elijah and cried out, my husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come threatening to take my two sons and the slaves. And that culture, of course, when the man who is able to care for the family dies, if there's no other manner than those who are owed, they just take whatever able bodies they can and make them slaves unto them. So he goes on to say, what can I do to help you? Elisha asked, tell me what do you have in the house? Nothing at all except a flask of olive oil, she replied. And Elisha said, borrow as many empty jars as you can from friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting one aside when it was filled. So she did, as she was told, her sons kept bringing these jars to her. So they're getting all these jars from the neighbors, door is shut so people couldn't see what she's doing, and she's just pouring this one flask into these jars. She filled one after another.

Soon, every container was full to the brim. Bring me another jar, she said to one of her sons. There aren't many more, he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, now go sell the olive oil that you have, that was provided miraculously by God, and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live off what's left over. God provides through miracle. By the way, I did try this, and the olive oil was just empty when I finished. But God is miraculous. God provides in unorthodox ways. God provides in obedience. God provides in miracles. And it brings us to this verse in Psalm 34, 8, 9. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who trusts in Him, have refuge in Him. Oh, fear Him, the Lord your saint, for those who fear Him have no lack. God is a God that provides. God is a God that keeps His promises. God is a God that will supply according to His riches in Christ Jesus. And that's the last point here, and team, you can come. God meets needs according to His riches. Think about this, according to God's riches. Philippians 4.19, and the same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches which has been given to us in Christ Jesus. I love this, according to His riches. That statement to me is so endless. There is no way in the world we could ever get to the depths of God's riches. No way we can get to the end of how much God has in and of Himself. He's an all-sufficient God. God is not supplying to us out of human resources that are limited. God has unlimited resources. Everything belongs to Him, the Scripture says. He owns every

opportunity. He owns every open door. He owns every resource. He owns every connection. He owns every outcome. God does not give to us out of His scarcity. God gives to us out of His abundance. But here's why we struggle. We struggle to trust God for provision because there's this fear of scarcity, as if God is going to run out, as if God doesn't have the ability to keep giving and keep doing. The other reason is because we lose control. If our trust is in God, then that means my trust is not in me. I lose control over things that are beyond me because I surrender my control to God. There's also the whole idea of idling, making things security and idle. But here's what we know. Culture will tell us that more money equals more safety. But the Bible will tell us that we have a Father who cares for us. We have a Father who cares for us. I don't want to read. You'll see the passage on the screen. It's Matthew 6, 25 through 34. I won't read it verse by verse, but here's what Jesus is teaching, that people worry about everyday life stuff, not having enough food, not having enough to drink, not knowing what they're going to wear. But He says, that's not really what life is all about. Life is not about those things you think you don't have. Life is about trusting God for what He knows you need. He says, look at the birds. Look at the lilies of the field. None of them are worried about those things. No bird is flying around worrying about whether it's going to eat or not. No lily is worrying about how beautiful it's going to look when it comes up. They don't worry about those things because they even know there's a God in heaven. And here's what the Lord is saying, and you're better than them. They're part of God's creation, but they're not God's children. The birds of the air are not God's children. They're part of God's creation. The lilies of the field are not God's children. They're part of God's creation, but you're His children. He knows. He cares. He loves you. He says, so don't worry about those things. Don't worry about them. Those are the things. Hear this in verse number 32. Don't miss it. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers. That's not you.

Not if Jesus is your Lord and Savior. Not if God is your Father. He said, those things dominate people who don't have anybody. But you've got somebody. You've got the great somebody. You've got the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the one who sits on the throne, who never fails, who always keeps His word. You're not an orphan. You're not an orphan. Jesus says, I'm not leaving you as orphans. I'm sending the Spirit to live in you, and you have a Father who's greater than all. So he says, don't worry about those things. Don't worry. So God promises to supply all of our needs. He really does. Not necessarily our desires. And whenever we cross the line from needs to desires, we always get ourselves in a little trouble. You remember the children of Israel when they were going through the land of the wilderness? God said, I'm gonna send you manna to eat every day. You don't have to worry about what you're gonna eat. I'm gonna send you manna to eat every day. But this is what I want you to do. I need you to trust me from day to day. So when you go out to get the manna, don't get more than what you need for today. Don't try to hoard it. Just get what you need for today. You had some of those who did just that and every day they trusted on, but you have some of those who didn't buy into that, who really didn't wanna believe what the Lord was promising and said. And so they would go get stuff for two and three days. And what would happen to it? It would rot. I'm a firm believer.

You will watch before your very eyes. If you go beyond your needs into your desires and just keep hoarding your desires, you will watch them just fade away right before your very eyes. God will give you what he promised. Sure enough, they went out there and would get more than what they need. More than what they need. And it would just rot on them. God is faithful. God is a provider. We can trust God completely that he will absolutely provide what we need. I want you to stand with me. I'm just gonna, I'm gonna do a prayer, but I wanna just challenge you on a couple of things before we pray. And that's this. I'm gonna ask you to reevaluate your needs versus your wants. And whenever something is before you, just really start committing. Do I need that or do I want that? Do I need that and do I want that? Is that something that I'm designed that's gonna cause me to get a little bit out of line with where I should be with the provision of my family? And if you got any areas in your life that you are, that's a concern,

because these things do happen, whether it's a job loss, whether it's a debt that you need to pay, or if you would just surrender that to the Lord, just go to him as a provider. Pray in faith, trust in him. You can be straight up with God. Father, you gave the birds what they need. I'm trusting that you're gonna give me what I need. You can pray with faith. You can trust him to do that. He's a good father. And I do ask that you practice contentment, that you become content and live with a heart of gratitude for what God has already done. And I always believe it's always a good practice. I don't care what situation you are in life, you can always be generous. You can always be generous. I'm telling you, my grandparents raised me, and I know there was times when things were slim. People would come over to the house and, you know, unexpected, it was already gonna be a little tight. But my grandmother always made a place for him at the table. And I saw my plate got a little bit less. It got a little bit less to take care of those that just came in. But you can't go wrong with generosity. This is another note, and it's off track, and I know I told you to stand, but don't worry,

it'll only be another 15 minutes. But I remember my grandmother told me something years ago, and I've never forgot it. She said, when you learn how to eat chicken feet, you'll celebrate when you get the whole chicken. There's some things that we become so ungrateful for what God does do that we don't even know how to praise him when he does over and beyond. Am I talking to the right church? But I gotta tell you, the ultimate provision, and that's the gospel, and that's eternity. Trusting God for your provision, that's today. That's today, and God will do it. I know he will, his word is proven. I've seen it in my life, all 62 years of my life, and I have no doubt he'll do it for you. But the ultimate provision for us is eternity. And the Lord did that by sending his son, Jesus Christ. The best thing that we can receive from him is not the things that we can lose and not the things that can be taken away, but the things that we will always have for eternity. And that's the salvation in him. Find that your strongest need is not financial. Your strongest need is the forgiveness of your sins and the healing of the separation that you have from God. That's your strongest need, is being secure in Christ. And once you are secure, you'll never, you'll never have a fear that you'll lack because God will prove to you.

If I can provide for you for eternity, I certainly can provide for you from day to day. And so I want to challenge you. If you're here in the house and you have not given your life to Christ, Romans 10, nine tells if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. As sure as my name is Tyrone P. Jones, he will provide for you every day what you need. Now I'm asking you to ask him for what you need for all eternity, and that's salvation in him. Every head bowed, eye closed, and prayer team, if you'll come. Father, I want to thank you for reminding us through the scripture that you are a God that provides for us. We saw how it was your providential acts in Joseph's life that provided not only provision for Jacob and his children but all for the nation of Israel. Lord, we've seen through Elijah how you provide through some unorthodox ways. We see, Lord, for the widow and her sons, how you provide miraculously. And Lord, we've seen it from day to day in our life that you are a God that gives us what we need. And so, Lord, my prayer is that each one of us will have a real heart of contentment and gratitude. Lord, to embrace contentment, to be very grateful, and to live day to day trusting you for what we need.

And Father, for those that are in the house, Lord, that have not trust you for eternity, my prayer and my desire is right now, Lord, as the scripture says, that they will confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord. That they would embrace, Lord God, what they need for all of eternity, and become your children, which all of these promises are now so because they're your child, that they will confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord, that they'll believe in their heart that you raised them from the dead, and they will be saved. Father, I trust you for your great work. Thank you for being a God who provides. In Christ's name we pray, amen. God bless you, have a great day. How many are grateful that God is the ultimate provider? That was such a wonderful and challenging message. If you've accepted Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior, and you've decided that you wanna take your next steps, such as water baptism, or joining a serve team, then you can tap the disc on the back of the chair, or you can stop at the connect table on your way out, and we'd love to walk with you through those next steps. Pastor's book, Gripped by Hope, is still available on grippedbyhope.com, or by scanning the QR code on the poster in the lobby.

The team is gonna remain up here as we sing through one last song of worship. ♪ Day and night, night and day let incense arise ♪ ♪ Day and night, night and day let incense arise ♪ ♪ Day and night, night and day let incense arise ♪ ♪ Day and night, night and day, oh-oh oh-oh-oh-ooh ♪ ♪ Day and night, night and day let incense arise ♪ ♪ Day and night, night and day let incense arise ♪ ♪ Day and night, night and day let incense arise ♪ ♪ Day and night, night and day let incense arise ♪ ♪ You are worthy of it all ♪ ♪ You are worthy of it all ♪ ♪ Yes you are Lord ♪ ♪ For from you are all things, to you are all things ♪ ♪ Oh you deserve the glory ♪ ♪ You are worthy of it all ♪ ♪ You are worthy of it all ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. For from you are all things. To you are all things. All you deserve the glory. Amen. Because we not deserve all the glory and all the praise, church. We're so grateful that you were able to join us today. We love you so, so much. Be blessed, and we'll see you next Sunday.