Jehovah Jireh…How to access the provision of God Chapter 5 Part 4

October 13, 2011 at 12:14 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: Bible Study, God' provision. accessing God's provision, How to get answered prayer, Jehovah Jireh

Jehovah Jireh… How to Access the
provision of God Chapter 5 Part 4

*Note:  This is meant to be an in-depth search of the scripture to determine what the Bible
says about His provision and our part in it.  Please do not struggle through the entire study in one time period.  I have it divided out, but feel free to answer one or two questions at a time and reflect on them.  Some of us are too busy to undertake an in depth Bible study, so we settle for short devotionals every day.  I am writing this for those who desire meat, but have little time.  You can take as much as you want each day.

God provided for the children of Israel when they wandered in the desert. They were not always obedient, loving, trusting of grateful, but God provided for their daily need anyway. They begged for bread and He provided manna; they were thirsty, so God instructed Moses to speak to the rock of granite and water flowed freely. It flowed freely though Moses had not been obedient. He struck the rock in anger rather than speak to the rock as God had told Him. They begged for meat, and God provided quail in abundance.  Their sandals never got holes, yet they walked in the hot sands every day.  Their clothes never required patching, and their feet did not get blisters, nor did they swell because Jehovah Jireh saw their need and He met that need  consistently.

 Read Exodus 16:4

1. Why did God say He was providing the manna for the Israelites?

Read Exodus 16:1-36

2. Were the Israelites obedient? Find two ways the Israelites were disobedient in following God’s directions regarding His provision for them.  We are like whining children begging for Barbie number 26, because there is a cheap ring included that we desire. We don’t need it, it isn’t going to benefit our growth, and it is only going to give gratification for a few seconds.

What Does God provide?

“Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven.” Before we pray, we should always be sure that what we ask for is in God’s will to provide. The first thing Jesus did when He prayed the model prayer was praise the Living God. Then He asked for the earth to be like
heaven. He asked that God’s will be done on earth like it is done in heaven. What a wonderful thing to ask for. IF we would allow that to happen, there would be no need for further petitions in prayer.  All that would be required would be continual praise for His merciful provision.

God is not like we are with our own children. He will not give us that piece of candy, just because we are making a
scene in Wal-Mart. His permissive will allow us to make mistakes, but He will not aid us in our headlong attempt to be disobedient, or make decisions that will harm us.

When we pray for something we are to pray only for what is within God’s will to provide. So what is within His will to provide? From the above verse we can see that Jesus said everyone, even the Gentiles, are provided with food, drink, clothing, the basics, simply because the Father knows we need it, but is there more?

 A. Jehovah Jireh provides us with our very existence, the environment around us that allows us to flourish, and the resources to gain food and clothing for ourselves.

Read Philippians 4:19

3. What does God provide for the believer? How do you interpret this verse? And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  Jehovah does promise to provide for us, if we are within his will, if what we ask for is within His will.  I think this is something we forget.

We forget Matthew 6:31-34 . Read Matthew 6:31-34.

4. What did Jesus say we needed to do before we asked for our daily needs?

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Our father knows we need those things, but if you lack…remember obedience is involved here…”But seek first His kingdom and His rghteousness and all these things will be added to you.” I realize that some bedient, righteous people sometimes have needs. I have to remember that I am ot God. I do not know all things. I do not have His purpose for eternity in ront of me. I must have faith in what is unseen, what is yet undone, but has been ccomplished in the mind of God, who loves me.

Captain Picard in Star Trek Enterprise, walks up to  wall and says, “Tea, Earl Grey, hot,” in that gracious English
Accent and the wall spits out a steaming cup of hot Earl Grey tea in a eautiful china cup. It does not work that way in the real world. We are xpected to till the ground, plant the seed, tend the garden, harvest the crop,
preserve the food, weave the cloth, and trample the wine. If we seek His way or us, if we seek His righteousness, we will find it is in His will for us to ork for our keep, and then He will provide for us. He does not promise excess.

When my husband lost his job, we were worried, and e prayed for a way to take care of ourselves. We did not receive excess, but mall ways were provided. A two-day job at minimum wage here, a fifty dollar job delivering cars  to another city, a tutoring job at the school system, and gifts from believers who knew our problem met the need on a daily basis. People who were led by the Spirit to help another believer sent money. The Hands of
Christ reached out to us and cared for us, just as He promised.

From the above verse we can see that Jesus said veryone, even the Gentiles, are provided with food, drink, clothing; the hings we need, simply because the Father knows we need it. Philippians 4:19 is one of the most quoted and best-loved scriptures in the Bible. And why not; on the surface, and out of context, it can be taken to mean that God will supply all your needs no matter what. Go ahead and squander your money on whatever you wish without a thought to those around you who are in need. However, if we connect this verse with the verses that precede this verse you will find a different concept altogether.

Read Philippians 4:14-16

5. When did the church at Philippi begin helping Paul? Did they send gifts one time or several?

Paul is thanking Philllipiansfor the money sent to sustain him while he was in prison. It was not the first time
they had helped him financially and prayerfully. At the beginning of his ministry they were often the only support that he had. Paul describes their gifts as a “sweet smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to
God.” The promise given in Philippians 4:19.  “And my God shall provide every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” referred to the sacrificial giving of the church in Philippi. They were faithful to the point that their own family’s were in danger of suffering. God would see to it that they would never suffer lack
because they were faithful, completely devoted in supporting those who were  spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

This promise is meant to assure obedient followers of Christ that God’s abundant provision is available. The
Child of God should be experiencing God’s grace in the form of daily provision. God’s grace to the Christian not only takes the form of material things of life, but guidance through difficult problems and times of worry and grief, strength when we are tempted, and immersion in the love of the Holy Spirit when we feel spiritually alone. God will provide for our needs out of His abundance, when and because we have done our part. When we have been obedient to His commandments, unselfish in our giving, centered in His will. He does provide for our needs because He is merciful.
(End here)

Read Psalm 103:3

6. What is promised in these verses? He forgives all of our sins, and took the consequence on Himself. The penalty for sin is death. That penalty was paid by Jesus Christ. It is a miracle that allows me to write the word forgiven on my  crown. This verse also tells us that He heals our diseases? Notice, healing takes place after forgiveness. Not all sickness is a result of sin, but where it is connected, forgiveness must come first.

B. He provides physical and spiritual healing.

Because of original sin, all people die a physical death on this earth. They all die of something. This makes the question of healing difficult for us to understand. I don’t know the answers, but I am certain that God is the ultimate healer. When the beginning of God’s reign is a reality and  God sits  in His rightful place on the throne in Jerusalem, there will be no sickness and no death.

C. He has provided for salvation of sinful man, because He loves us and spiritual enlightenment for those who seek it.

Read Romans 5:8

7.  When did Christ die for us?

Read  John 3:16

8. Why did He give His life?

Read Romans 3:23

9.  Why was it necessary for man to be condemned to death?

Read Acts 13:38-39

10. What do we have to do to attain and know that we have the gift of salvation and eternal life?

Read 1 John 5:13

11. God’s grace is a gift, so how are we saved? What does not save us?

Read Ephesians 2:8-9

God has promised that He will provide Spiritual enlightenment to those who look for it. We need to know more
about God and His plan for us. This means that these faithful followers of  Jesus will, in the resurrection, be highly exalted to be like him. (I John 3:1-3)

Read Peter 1:4

12.   Wat does it mean to be like the  resurrected Jesus? To be like the resurrected Jesus means to be a partaker of
the Divine nature.  We need to know who we are, and what God has called us to be.

D. He gives us the only hope mortal man can take hold of in his daily struggle to survive.

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:3

13. What is the only hope mortal man has?  The hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is all there is. Hope is another wonderful gift to those who are in Christ. It is glorious to serve the living true God. It is true peace to know His Son will come for us from the heavens. It is the blessed hope we all yearn for. Every man must have hope to survive. O.S. Marden says, “There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow.”

Many place their hope in man’s ability to solve problems. Many think the governmentcan bring peace to the world. This hope is empty a vapor of hope that wafts over you like a faint breeze; then is replaced by the blistering heat of  reality. Don’t get into the canoe with a Politian thinking He is going to solve your problem. His insufficient bit of wood will sink in that well-known stinking  tributary even if you help him paddle. Get into the boat with Jesus. His nail scarred hands will save you. His broken heart will blanket you with everlasting  love. His ressurrection insures your place in eternity.

Read I Thessalonians 4:14 and II Corinthians 4:14

14.  What words in these verses show us that His resurrection secures our resurrection to eternal life? If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we can believe that God will bring those who are asleep in Christ will go to God just as Christ did. God raised Jesus and He will raise us also.

There are three kinds of death: physical death (death of the physical body), spiritual death (separation from God), and the second death or eternal death described in Revelations. The second death is eternal separation from God. Before we are saved we are spiritually dead, walking around under the weight of our sins.

Read  Romans 6:4

15. What happens when we are baptized? We are raised from our spiritual death so we can walk in a new life.  This is possible only through His love and sacrifice.

E. He preserves those who follow him.

Read Psalm 37:28 .

16. What does the LORD do because He loves justice? He preserves believers forever.  Because of this we are eternally secure. Remember the covenant before creation; Christ agreed to make the sacrifice that was needed to save the fallen world.  He met the requirements of the covenant when He died on the cross. Our old man was crucified with Him so that we could do our part by accepting the sacrifice made in our behalf. Christ met the terms of the covenant and now God must also meet the terms and He will; because He cannot do otherwise. It is not in His nature to go back on His word. We, as believers do not deserve this, but Christ died to buy it for us, and His resurrection secures it for us.

F. He prospers the saints.

Read Deuteronomy 28:1-68

These verses list the blessings that come if we observe and do all the commandments and what will  happen if we do not.

17. A. List three that are important to you. My choices are
Blessed be the fruit of your body(my children), blessed be my basket and my
store(my livelihood), and coming in and going out(blessings in my everyday
activities). My greatest peace regarding prospering is Psalm 23:1

B. Write Psalm 23:1 here. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

G. He protects the saints.

Read Psalm 91:4

18. A. Where do we find refuge?

B. What does He give us as a shield?

We are a flawed people who err  and need to school ourselves, to learn discipline as we grow in our faith. We
are tested to prove we will be obedient. But we can rest under the very wings of God. We can experience peace as God takes care of us as a mother bird tenderly cares for her chicks.

H. Delivers the saints:

His provision for deliverance is complete and begins with our inner heart.

Read 1 John 1:9

19. What is the deliverance that is promised in this verse?

How wonderful a promise is this? There is hope. I can be forgiven because provision has been made to cover my willful sin. Sinless Christ dies for my sins and the provision is perfect. I need do nothing but believe and follow Him in obedience to His words. But is there a promise of deliverance from pain, heartbreak, trouble, terror and more. Is there deliverance for the day to day horrors that afflict us during our lives?

 Read Psalm 91:3, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 34:17, Psalm 91:5,6, Psalm 107:6, II Samuel 22:2, Romans
8:2, John 8:32, 36, Luke 4:18, II Peter 2:9, James 5:16.

20. Make a list of areas in which  Jhovah Jireh has provided deliverance for His children.

(end here)

I.  He leads us.

Read Deuteronomy 8:2

We all have read how God lead, protected, fed and nourished the Israelites for forty years in the wilderness. We sometimes wish that we had this kind of direct supervision from the LORD. How could we not believe? How could we not be obedient if we witnessed the cloud leading by day  and  the pillar of fire protecting the camp at night? How could we not praise Him when we picked up the manna every day and fed on the quail that flooded into the camp to provide meat? How could we not give Him honor and glory that He deserved when we did not experience swollen feet as we marched daily through the sands of the desert and our sandals never wore out? Yet, they did not obey!  They were not grateful! They did not relish their position as favored ones of God! And neither would we if we were in the same position.

Yet, in His great mercy, He does lead us and guide us. He does this in many ways.

Read Proverbs 2:6-9

21. Why did God say He led the  Iraelites in the wilderness?

Read Psalm 32:8, Isaiah 30:21, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 37:23, Psalm 25:9, Psalm 25:12, Psalm 32:8, Psalm 37:23, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 1:33 , Proverbs 2:6-9, Isaiah 42:16

22. As you read these verses, make a chart with two columns. On one side list the words pertaining to guidance and on the other the conditions required to merit the guidance and wisdom of the LORD.

We can see that we have responsibilities that must be met to gain the guidance of God in our daily activities. We are to be open to Him and regard Him with serious reverence and  awe. We must acknowledge Him as our God and trust in Him. We must leave our own uderstanding of our situation behind us and follow Him listening for the voice in our ears that tells us to go left or right. We must be walking upright and  with integrity in His ways proving to Him that we will walk in His ways of righteousness. We are all walking in the wilderness. Why? Deuteronomy 8:2 So He can humble us, “prove”(test) us and know what is in our heart that He may see if we
will follow His commandments. We can be like the Israelites and refuse to be obedient. We can refuse to walk with integrity and truth as we follow the way He has set for each of us as individuals; or we can seek His face, receive His righteousness, and walk with Him in fellowship, always privy to His wisdom,  cunsel, and guidance.

J. Brings his words to pass

Read Luke 21:32-33.
This verse refers to Israel and Jerusalem in the last days, but does God bring is words to pass for each struggling individual?

Read II Peter 3:9, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:5,6, Daniel 4:35, Isaiah  4:9,10 , John 10:27, 29, Luke 12:32, John 6:39,40, John 17:12, Luke 1:37.

23. Read these verses and write down at least one that pertains to your life? The LORD is longsuffering, patient with me because it is not His will that I perish. Everything that he has willed has come to pass, therefore, the earth produces the fruits that I need to survive and the plan of salvation made before the beginning of the world is there for me. There is nothing that can stop Him. Satan will never rule! I am His sheep and He knows me and nothing can snatch me from His hand. He will give me eternal life and will raise me to be with Him. None who know Him will perish. No word of God is void of power. All that He wills for me will be accomplished if I am yielded to His will.

L. He orders the ways of men

Read Proverbs 16:9.

We work and think and plan, but it is God who directs our ways. We have the choice to follow where He leads us or to go our own way. We should subject ourselves to His leadership and let Him have His way with us.

Proverbs 16:1-4,

24. What do we need to do in order to be successful?

Read  Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 3:5, Psalm 25:4, Proverbs 1:33, Isaiah 48:17, Isaiah 58:11, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 37:4-7, Philippians 1:6, Psalm 37:23,

25. Write a one or two-line motto using the truths obvious to you when reading these verses. This is mine. “I am far too smart to disregard the advice of  God, but I am so Spiritually  deaf that I do not always hear it plainly.”  “Don’t do a stinkin’ thing until you have heard from God about it.”
We can plan out our lives, or simply what we will say or what we will do when an occasion presents itself, but God is sovereign and will overrule anything that does not accomplish His purpose. In order to experience answered prayer, in order to receive good things from the provider, we must make sure that what we ask for is within His will.

M. He ordains the conditions and circumstances of man.

 Read  I Samuel 2:7-8

This verse confuses me because I do not understand why some people are so poor and needy and others experience the comfort and luxury that wealth brings. However, I know that God has a reason and we will someday understand. When I think of the Spiritual areas of a man’s life, I realize that all can be rich beyond anything man’s mind can dream up for himself. Man does not have the capacity to accomplish anything for God in His own effort, power, or strength. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we win souls, become strengthened in our resolve to follow God, or understand the Wisdom given to us in His word. If we do not like the way God rules the universe He created, then we need to create our own and run it the way we wish. Since we live in His Universe, we have to do it His way and trust Him as the omnipotent one, the omniscient one,
the omnipresent one. We can have peace knowing that He is El Roi, the one who  sees and understands the suffering and afflictions of His people. He is Jehovah  Rapha, the one who heals and He is Jehovah Shammah, the one who is there. He is Jehovah Tsidkenu, the LORD our righteousness when we have none of our own. He
is Jehovah Mekoddishkem, the one who sanctifies us and prepares us for our meeting with Jesus in the clouds of glory. It is He and He alone who has the right, wisdom, and ability to ordain the conditions and circumstances of man.

N. Determines the period of human life

Read  Acts 17:26

26.   According to this scripture, what else did God determine? God is the source of all things and He made all the necessary decisions that we are not capable of making. Not one of us can add one second to the days of our lives.

O. He defeats the plans of the wicked and overrules the wicked designs against good.

Read II Samuel 17:14-15 , Genesis 50:20

 Absolom had made the despicable decision to dethrone His father David, the anointed of God. He gathered the wise men of the kingdom, including those who had served under His father and asked them for advice. Hushai,
remained loyal to David and Absolom, whose heart mind was directed by God to follow advice that would ultimately help His father listened to him. When this verse refers to the good advice of Ahithophel, who would have benefited from his advice, Absolom or David?

27.  Can you think of any other stories in the Bible where God defeated the plans of the wicked?

P. He preserves the course of nature

 Read  Psalm 104:5-9

28. Do you depend on God to preserve the course of nature? Think of some ways in which you take His
order for granted. process of aging, every good drought ends with a rain,  childbirth, death, the seasons, snow melts when the temperature rises…We take God’s order for granted. We live in a well-ordered Universe in which the very movements of the sun and moon tell us when it is time to plant the seeds and when it is time to reap the treasures from the earth that will sustain us during the harsh winter months. These things were known from ancient times by people who had never heard of a telescope, but they had sense enough to figure out God’s timing for their lives.

S. He  directs all events

Read Joshua 7:14

In this story, Achan had sinned.

29. What did God tell Joshua to do? God still directs the affairs of man. In the New Testament, a similar incident occurred. The sin of Annanias and Saphirra was made known by the Holy Spirit in the early church. God deals with each of us in a personal way by having the Holy Spirit convict us of our sins. He deals with us as individuals, churches, and as nations.

R. He rules the elements

Read Isaiah 50:2

30. From previous studies, can you give the names of God that relate to His role as Creator, Sustainer, and God Almighty?

S. He orders the minutest matters

Read  Matthew 10:29-31

31. A. If God is aware of the thousands of sparrows that inhabit the earth, what can we infer from this verse?

B.  Does this verse give you comfort? Write a short prayer thanking God for His  provision of this verse that assures us of our worth to Him.