Chosen - The Lord Will Provide

© South Bay Community Church
Sermon Reflections
Chosen – The Lord Will Provide
 Lead Pastor Tammy Long
Scripture Text: Philippians 4:19

Sermon Preamble
We are glad that some of you are enjoying the sermon series, Chosen. The Chosen media series feels biblically true; even though some may not be directly stated in the Bible. The writers have developed the story line to put us in the biblical time and place with Jesus. It provides us additional insight regarding Jesus, including His person, ways, manner, character, culture, and humanity. This media series invites us to deepen our love for Jesus because the incarnate Jesus is the embodiment of God’s love. Jesus chooses us to be His friends, His family, and His partners on a mission. Jesus invites us to choose Jesus in return. In that invitation Jesus does not force it, demand it, or force us to accept it. Recapping what it means to be chosen so far: (1) Jesus knows our name and invites us to come and see; (2) The Lord offers true Sabbath rest for our souls with Jesus and in Jesus; (3) We are cherished children of God deeply loved by Jesus. In this message, we will explore that to be chosen means how Jesus provides for our needs.        

The Lord gets our attention especially when we are in need
There are many types of needs. Sometimes the desperate need has our back against the wall, and we don’t know how we are going to get out of the mess we are in. It may be a material need when there are more days until the end of the month than money to pay for monthly needs, including housing needs, transportation needs, or hunger needs. It may be a physical health need we need to navigate. It may be an emotional need related to loneliness or a painful relationship. It may be a need for wisdom or discernment to solve a problem or address a situation.  
When we are in need, we recognize how vulnerable we can be and how dependent we really are on God. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, everything can change, and we can find ourselves in need. Or maybe it is not sudden. Perhaps it has been an evolutionary reality. Perhaps we have been in denial that there is a problem until we have to admit that we really are in trouble. Then we are truly in need.

Peter is in great financial need on a tax debt
In The Chosen media series, Peter is in trouble and in great need. Peter is confessing to his wife that he has significant tax debt, a significant financial need. Peter’s tax debt is impacting his entire household. This tax debt is not in the Bible, but the biblical account is that Romans exploited Jews with exorbitant taxes. Jews hated tax collectors because they collected on behalf of the Roman oppressors and added amounts that they kept for themselves. Peter’s predicament is consistent with the biblical life, ways, and times.
Watch Video Clip 1 – Peter confesses to his wife.

We may experience a great need like Peter
Do you feel his pain? Perhaps you have not had this exact situation, but we all may have experienced our back against the wall when we are in need, and we don’t know what to do. There seems to be no way out and no positive solution. Fear and panic might descend upon us. Often in these cases, whether we are a believer in Christ or not, we pray out of desperation.
Even if it is not this drastic, we all know what it is like to be in need. In these times, especially for material needs, someone will remind us, or we will cling to the promises found in Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”  

Scripture texts on the ways God provides for our needs
The Lord will provide for our needs, not necessarily our wants. There are at least 169 verses in the Bible that refer to ways God provides for our needs.  In the book of Genesis, God provides from the beginning of time when God created the Garden of Eden. God provided food and joyous work for Adam and Eve as stewards of the garden. After they disobeyed God and had to leave the garden, we see God providing animal skins to cover their bodies and provide direction for their protection. David wrote “the Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). This means that David lacks nothing; everything he needs is provided. Similarly, we lack nothing. “No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). The Lord provided manna and quail in the middle of the wilderness. When Abraham was tested regarding Isaac, God provided a ram in the bush: “Abraham named the place Yahweh- Yireh (which means the Lord will provide). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb. On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:14, NLT).
In many examples, we see that the Lord provides, including when Jesus was on earth. Many of Jesus’ miracles are manifestations of this truth.

Paul’s personal experience of God providing for his needs    
When Paul became a follower of Jesus on a mission for the Lord, Paul experienced almost every need imaginable. He had been chased down, shipwrecked, beat up at the hands of those who despised him, and thrown into prison. God faithfully met his every need in every circumstance.
A few verses earlier than our scriptural text, Paul writes, “12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:12-13). In plenty or in need, Paul experienced that the Lord will provide, and he learned to be content through it all.
We often quote the last part of that verse like a power mantra asserting that I can do anything through Christ. To some extent, this is true. But, in context, Paul is talking about the power and strength Christ gives for us to be content in times of need, not just in times of plenty.
Regardless of the circumstances, in God’s timing, in God’s wisdom, and in God’s great love for us, God will provide. Therefore, Paul says to the Philippians in our scripture for this message, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

In the Kingdom of God, God provides
When Jesus was on earth, everything He did manifested the love of God. Remember Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. “31So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? 32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:31-33).
The Lord wants to, promises to, and will provide for the children of God. The children of God have chosen Christ. Jesus taught and Paul experienced this.
What about those who have not chosen the Lord?

There are some provisions that God gives to all, but provides greater things to those who follow Jesus
“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45b). There are some provisions that God gives to all, like the air we breathe, the sunshine and beauty of this world, and the bounty of this earth. All people, whether they are believers in Christ or not, experience good times and hard times. However, God provides even greater things for those who have decided to follow Jesus.  

Life happens, and God’s provision can take a long time, so testimonies of others are valuable
Even though we may know that the Lord provides, life happens. Like Rev. Gerald Ashby reminded us a few weeks ago, God’s provision can take a long time. So we wait. It can be hard to trust and keep faith that God will provide when we do not see it.  In facing our needs, the proverbial clock may be ticking louder and louder with more urgency.
Testimonies are stories of God’s faithfulness and are very important. The testimonies encourage us and remind us to hold on because God is able, and the Lord will provide. When God does provide, we draw closer to God. We are encouraged and deepened in our faith. Like Paul, we become witnesses to say with confidence that God will supply all our needs. The Lord provides.

Like Peter, we witness in testimony that the Lord provides
The Lord will provide! See Video Clip 2 – Peter and the Catch of Fish. Peter had responded, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything” (Luke 5:5). Notice the non-verbal exchange in the video clip between Peter and Jesus. Just before the net fills up, Peter looks at Jesus with a look and attitude that says, “I told you so; nothing happened.” Jesus looks right back with a look that says, “You will see.” Peter is blown away by the goodness and provision of the Lord; the boat is filled to overflowing. This miracle is in the Bible at Luke 5:1-11. Jesus invites Peter to follow Him and become a fisher of people. “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him” (Luke 15:11).
Peter experienced many miracles about the Lord providing. From his own personal experience, Peter, like Paul, became a witness for Jesus that the Lord provides.

We experience today that the Lord still provides
We don’t have to go back over 2,000 years to hear the testimonies. We all have a testimony about the goodness of God. So much of God’s provisions are taken for granted. It is helpful to pause and reflect in recognizing the many ways that God provides. It is all God.
It is especially helpful to share the testimonies of when God got our attention. God provided in a way we did not expect. God provided above and beyond what we imagined. God provided in ways we thought we didn’t want, but God provided exactly what we needed.
We have services on Saturday night called Oasis. We have testimony time every week. Those testimonies remind us of the goodness of God in our lives. God is faithful, and the Lord will provide. We don’t get to do testimonies often during the Sunday morning worship service. Loretta Brantley, Daniel Walton, and Erica McCloud shared their testimony in the worship service video available on the website.
We are witnesses to the truth that God provides each and every day. Holding on in faith as we wait on God sometimes is our struggle. God’s ways are not our ways; God’s timetable is not our timeline. Sometimes our situation gets worse, and we question, where is God?

The story of the man on the rooftop
Perhaps you have heard before the humorous story of the fellow stuck on his rooftop in a flood; it makes a good point. A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help. A rowboat, then a motorboat, and then a helicopter came by and the occupant said, “Come and get in; I can save you.” To each one, the stranded man replied, “No thanks. I’m praying to God, and He is going to save me. I have faith.” So the rowboat, then the motorboat, and then the helicopter each left the man. The water rose above the rooftop, and the man drowned. When he went to heaven, the man finally got to discuss the situation with God. The man exclaimed, “I had faith in you, but you didn’t save me; you let me drown. I don’t understand why!” God replied, “I sent you a rowboat, then a motorboat, and then a helicopter; what more did you expect?”
This little story can make us chuckle, because God provision was so obvious. But similarly, do we miss the ways that God may be trying to provide for us? We may miss the ways because we are expecting or looking for something else. We love when God provides, like God did for Peter, for us in grand ways more than we can ask or think. No doubt that those provisions are wonderful.

Often God provides in ways smaller than a grand gesture
We gain guidance from God when we spend time in God’s Word and listen in prayer. For example, Erica testified about God’s provision because she found extra money when reviewing her finances and a new job opportunity in teaching part time. The Lord also provides through the wisdom of others who speak into our lives.

We need to think differently because God provides in so many different ways
God provides when we step out of our comfort zones to see and think differently. We think differently when we cast our “net of needs” into the sea one more time even though we’ve been trying all night. We think differently when we decide to get into the rowboat, motorboat, or helicopter God sends our way.  
We trust and believe that God will provide. While waiting and praying, we need to remember to open our eyes and ears to be attuned to how God may provide this time. We need to be patient because we have the confidence in knowing that God is taking care of the birds of the air, the lilies of the field, and God is taking care of us. The Lord will provide for the needs of God’s children.
 God promises to provide for our needs not our wants. Sometimes, we may have to pause and reflect on the difference between our needs and our wants. What is your true need?

God provides through others
When Paul told the Philippians that my God will supply all your needs, Paul is thanking them for their generous financial gifts towards Paul and his ministry. “At the moment I have all I need- and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:18-19).
Note that the Lord provides from God’s glorious riches. We cannot even comprehend God’s riches in glory. God’s riches include all of space and time, material and immaterial, limitless and infinite. From God’s glorious riches, God meets the needs of believers. No wonder Jesus tells us not to worry about our needs.
Also know that God uses the flow of the Kingdom of God to meet those needs. God can do the miraculous, but often God provides through other people. The Lord used the generosity of the Philippians to meet Paul’s needs in the rhythm of the Kingdom of God. The Philippian believers could be assured that the Lord would meet their needs as well. As they were taking care of God’s business by first seeking the Kingdom, God would take care of them and meet their needs.
To be chosen means that the Lord promises to provide. As believers continue to seek first the Kingdom of God, God opens the floodgates of heaven and provides for us because of God’s great love for us. Jesus says for us not to worry. At the right time, when God orchestrates everything that needs to be orchestrated and when we are ready for whatever God is working, God provides for our needs.
God entrusts us to meet the needs of others; that is how it works in the Kingdom of God.    

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FOR USE IN FAMILY GROUP
Sermon Preamble
- In what ways has The Chosen media series provided insight into the person, ways, manner, character, culture, and humanity of Jesus? Even if particular details are not in the bible, in what ways does the presentation appear to accurately reflect the biblical life and times of Jesus on earth?
The Lord gets our attention especially when we are in need
-As we remember how God provides in many ways, including using others, what needs do you have today that you are willing to share?
Peter is in great financial need on a tax debt
Peter had a tax debt to the Roman oppressive regime that was typically collected by another Jewish person known as a tax collector. Indeed, Matthew, who became a gospel writer, was a Jewish tax collector hated by the Jewish people. Consider that all are ultimately accountable to God and God’s direction to us of love and forgiveness. What is your response when you see that a member of your race and culture is actively participating in the system that oppresses your group? A current example may be the African American Memphis police officers charged with murder for recently killing Tyre Nichols.
We may experience a great need like Peter
In what ways do you feel the pain of Peter? Even if your situation is not as drastic as Peter, what has been your practice when faced with dire needs?
Scripture texts on the ways God provides for our needs
What biblical scripture most resonates with you when God provides for your needs?
Paul’s personal experience of God providing for his needs  
What circumstances have you faced that have given you the personal experience that God provides for your needs?
In the Kingdom of God, God provides
For those who have chosen Christ, they are like adopted children eternally part of the Kingdom of God. In what ways does this impact the provisions of God for meeting their needs?
There are some provisions that God gives to all, but provides greater things to those who follow Jesus
What are some provisions that God gives to all, even if they are not a believer in Jesus Christ?
Life happens, and God’s provision can take a long time, so testimonies of others are valuable
When are testimonies of others valuable to you?
Like Peter, we witness in testimony that the Lord provides
What are appropriate responses for you when God provides for your needs?
We experience today that the Lord still provides
How are the testimonies of others that God today still provides for needs in many ways so helpful for you?
The story of the man on the rooftop
What is the lesson that you remember to take with you regarding the man on the rooftop?
Often, God provides in ways smaller than a grand gesture
What are some of the more ordinary small ways, not a grand miracle, that you notice God providing for needs?
We need to think differently because God provides in so many different ways
How would you adjust your thinking to see and hear the different ways God provides for needs?
God provides through others
In what ways has God provided for your needs through other people?